Rare origin · bright and juicy

Burundi Coffee

Burundi is a small, landlocked country of hills next to Rwanda. Its Red Bourbon coffees are among Africa’s juiciest, and few reach the US.

Altitude
4,900–6,500 ft
Harvest
March–July
Varieties
Red Bourbon
Usual process
Washed (often double-fermented)
Rarity index
93/100

Carried by 22 of 312 US roasters we track

On Roasterland
6 coffees · 6 roasters

In the cup

Red fruit, black tea and citrus

Juicy and bright: red currant, cherry, black tea, orange and sometimes a floral finish.

Red currantBlack teaOrangeFloral

Taste profile

SweetnessMedium
AcidityBright
BodyMedium
BitternessLow

From our tasting of every coffee from this origin on Roasterland. Each coffee page has its own profile.

Burundi, side by side

Same origin, different small roasters. Each roasts it its own way.

About the region

A country of hills and washing stations

Hundreds of thousands of smallholders grow coffee in Burundi, often just a few dozen trees each. They bring cherries to local washing stations, where lots are fermented, washed and dried on raised beds.

Kayanza and Ngozi in the north produce many of the best lots. Because farms are tiny and logistics are hard, traceable Burundi coffee is limited every year.

Roasters who roast Burundi

Carrier Roasting Co. Northfield, VT Coffee Labs Roasters Tarrytown, NY

If you like Burundi, try

AfricaRwandaRed fruit · Black tea · Floral · Citrus AfricaDR CongoRaspberry · Plum · Black tea · Citrus AfricaKenyaBlackcurrant · Grapefruit · Tomato · Brown sugar

Questions about Burundi

Is Burundi like Rwanda?
They share a border, a variety (Red Bourbon) and a bright, juicy style, but each country’s lots taste distinct.
What is the “potato defect”?
An occasional off flavor in East African coffee caused by a bug. Careful sorting at washing stations keeps it rare.