Notes of redcurrant, plum and cherry jump out at first taste of this coffee, elevated by the tang of a lime-citrus acidity. The body is silky smooth, testament to the quality of the processing, and there are hints of chocolate and a mild nuttiness. The profile finishes with the mild but pleasant astringency of Earl Grey tea.

Mageyo Washing Station in Bujumbura, Burundi services close to 1000 farmers, and is part of the Akawa project, an initiative that was launched to build fair and stable supply chains in the country. The mill pays its farmers an up-front flat fee prior to the harvest, which mitigates the financial risk that often falls on the shoulders of coffee producers; this way, they are assured access to resources they need for a productive harvest. The Akawa initiative also finances UTZ certification for its member washing stations, and uses the premiums gained from the sale of this coffee to train farmers in good crop management practices.

Post-harvest, strict quality control processes are in place at the mill, which the farmers are happy to work with given the favourable payment structure. After processing, the coffee is transported to Nairobi where it is stored in the cooler climate to preserve the quality prior to export.

Mageyo

We already know that prisoners are 50% more likely to reoffend if they leave prison without skills and a job. And we definitely know that in specialty coffee, people need exceptional skills.

Enter Redemption Roasters, the world’s first behind bars coffee company. We were approached by the Ministry of Justice to help address the state of reoffending through coffee. Our roastery is inside the walls of HMP the Mount and our network of barista academies operate in justice sector institutions across the country.

As part of our mission to help offenders successfully reintegrate into society, we train them in professional roastery and barista skills. On release, we help our “Graduates” to find work, either in our own coffee shops, or with our wholesale clients.

We don’t just source coffee ethically; our entire roasting and coffee education process is socially impactful. The result is a finely crafted cup of coffee that raises the bar for everyone.

Mageyo

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Mageyo