Day 6: Tanzania – Advent Calendar Reveal
Origin: Tanzania
Location: Mbinga
Altitude: 1,800+ masl
Tasting notes: Caramel, Red Berries
Why Alice and Ben love it: The area this coffee comes from is known for its vibrant acidity and balance. It’s very distinctive, and some say it almost tastes like tea! It might not be for everyone, but we’d definitely recommend you try this coffee black (as a filter coffee ideally) to taste the unique tea-like flavours coming through!
The coffee comes from a cooperative in the Mbinga district of southern Tanzania, called Kipololo AMCOS. Grown in volcanic soils at high altitudes near Lake Nyassa, the coffee is carefully de-pulped, fermented for 2–3 days, then dried on raised African beds for up to two weeks. As part of the larger Ruvuma Project, Kipololo contributes to a production of around 1,000 metric tons of coffee per season - that's a lot!
Farmer spotlight:
Kipololo AMCOS is a young, energetic group of farmers based in Mbinga, Southern Tanzania. They have become known for producing delicious, fully washed coffee with a beautifully balanced, bright flavour. They’re part of the Ruvuma project, which runs 21 coffee processing sites in Mbinga and another 23 in the Mbeya/Mbozi region nearby, producing around 1,000 tonnes of high-quality coffee each season. The process is hands-on and carefully managed from start to finish: farmers pick only ripe, red cherries, remove the fruit, and ferment the beans for two to three days before washing them clean. The beans are then dried on raised African beds for up to two weeks, turned regularly, and protected from the strongest sun or night-time moisture. Once fully dried, the coffee rests in special tanks and is taken to a central facility in Mbinga for any extra drying and milling. Mbinga itself is a remote, stunning region with volcanic soils and rolling hills that stretch towards Lake Nyasa, and coffee is its lifeblood, connecting the town to the rest of Tanzania. Thanks to ongoing improvements in roads and farming, the area continues to grow its reputation for producing exceptional coffee.
Click here to learn all about RISE coffee on our recent Jazz FM interview.
