Mapendo
Strawberry Lemonade & Floral
Mapendo, which is Swahili for “love”, consists of nearly 40% women farmers. This Congolese coffee combines notes of citrus and dried fruit with a dense, spiced molasses sweetness for a dynamic yet cozy cup.
Origin: Congo
Roast: Light
Variety: SL-34
Process: Fully Washed
Region: African Great Lakes
Producer: Buchiro, Chebumba
Elevation: 1,480 to 2,000 meters above sea level
Mapendo, swahili for “love,” is a cooperative farmed in 16 separate lots by 4,200 farmers. They contribute to two washing stations, Buchiro and Chebumba (run by the Cooperative Agricole Muungano) in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Nearly 40% of the contributors are women.
Many of the farmers are widows as a result of violent conflicts in the area. Gender justice is one of the pillars of their cooperative, and they have worked with OXFAM to implement community-led food security and income initiatives with a focus on gender equity and inclusion. They have been Fair Trade certified since 2009.
This coffee is fermented for 36 hours (12 hours dry, and 24 hours wet), then dried down to 10-12% moisture for 12-21 days on raised beds.
