Eastern arabica from the Kivu and Ituri highlands, washed at cooperative micro-stations and rebuilding after decades of conflict.
Eastern DR Congo is where the arabica comes from, in North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri. Smallholders deliver cherry to cooperative micro-washing stations, each serving about 100 members, and a count in April 2020 found 123 operating with dozens more planned. On Idjwi island in Lake Kivu, coffee began in the 1940s under Belgian colonial rule from local Bourbon strains, was later nationalised under Mobutu, and lost its export trade in the wars of 1996-2002, when growers smuggled it to Rwanda by canoe. Specialty coffee is now presented as a livelihood and a path to peace in the Kivus.
History
Coffee growing on Idjwi island began in the 1940s under Belgian colonial rule, using local Bourbon strains, and was later nationalised under Mobutu. The wars of 1996-2002 destroyed the export industry. Since then cooperatives have built micro-washing stations across North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri, with 123 operating by April 2020.
Field notes
- i
On Idjwi island, growers smuggled coffee to Rwanda by canoe during the 1996-2002 wars, a roughly five-kilometre crossing that took two days.
- ii
One project counted 123 micro-washing stations in eastern DRC by April 2020, each serving about 100 farmers.
- iii
At least 7,500 farmers belong to the cooperatives in Rikolto's eastern DRC arabica programme.
Where it growsArabica in the eastern highlands of North Kivu, South Kivu and Ituri.
Regions of Democratic Republic of the Congo
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Eastern DR Congo province whose Lubero highlands feed cooperative washing stations. One lot there cups with bright acidity, stone fruit and black currant.
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Province on Lake Kivu that includes Idjwi island, where local Bourbon strains are washed at cooperative micro-washing stations.
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North-eastern DR Congo province where cooperatives in Djugu and Mahagi run micro-washing stations as part of the eastern arabica revival.
How it is usually processed
Sources · 3 Every sentence here was checked against a source we read. Taste notes are what guides describe, not promises about your bag. Last revised 2026-11-10. Some details here are less settled than others.
- The Revival of Arabica Coffee in Eastern DRC · Rikolto
- On an Island in the DRC's Lake Kivu, Coffee Begins to Bear Economic Fruit · Daily Coffee News
- DR Congo Organic Gorilla Blend Kivu 3 Washed 2023 · Genuine Origin