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Busasa Coffee Washing Station, established in the Gashoho area in 2014, operates with a dedicated team of 6 full-time members and up to 150 seasonal workers. The station features 151 African drying beds and sources from 1600 farmers in the surrounding hills. Notably, Busasa’s producers receive a 20% premium above the local market rate, while staff enjoys wages nearly 60% higher than the Burundi average. This commitment extends across Matraco’s portfolio, which includes two more washing stations in Northern Burundi. Matraco also supports local farmers by distributing composted coffee pulp as fertilizer and donating seedlings.
Matraco’s coffee journey began with a truck. Founder Zuberi Matsitsi got his start transporting coffee in trailer trucks, eventually amassing a fleet of over 10 trucks. In 2015, Matraco expanded into coffee production. Today, Matraco continues to transport coffee in their own trucks, ensuring close quality oversight in an area where transportation remains something of a challenge.
The meticulous process for washed coffees involves 12-15 hour fermentation, before pulping and overnight storage in ceramic open-air tanks. After washing, the beans are sorted by density and then dried on raised beds for approximately 20 days.
Country of Origin: Burundi
Region: Gashoho, Muyinga
Producer Type: Washing Station
Farm Name: Various Producers
Processing: Washed
Growing Altitude: 1600-1800 MASL
Plant Species: Arabica
Varietals: Bourbon
During colonization, Belgians forced the people of Burundi to grow coffee to pay taxes, an all too familiar story. So, it is understandable that after independence, the farmers of Burundi were less than enthusiastic about growing coffee and there was almost no focus on quality. When world coffee prices dropped to historic lows 20 years ago, prices paid to farmers by government run washing stations were so low that coffee was smuggled into neighboring countries to be sold as Rwandan or Tanzanian coffee. When prices began to rise and become relatively stable, Burundi coffee farmers in the northern highlands did not forget that Rwanda received better prices for quality. The coffee farmers of Burundi began to emulate some of what was happening in Rwanda, forming cooperatives and seeking ways to improve quality
One clear indicator of a focus on quality is an increase in washing stations in a country where transportation is a challenge. The closer a washing station is to coffee trees, the greater control over quality and micro-climate specific separations. Burundi has seen a significant increase in the number of washing station over the last ten years and in recent years internal economic structures have liberalized enough for growers to experience increased income for increased quality. The cool highlands, soil, and altitude are ideal for growing excellent coffee.
Pre-Umber is happy to offer our Canadian customers free shipping on all orders over $100.00 (Northwest Territories, Nunavut and the Yukon there is a flat rate fee) Orders qualifying for free shipping will be sent via Canada Post Expedited Parcel service, UPS or Purolator depending on your address. If you do not want to use the free shipping option you will have the option to choose which method you would like us to ship and you simply pay what we have to pay for shipping.
If your cart just doesn't seem to total up to $100.00, don't worry. Pre-Umber offers real-time carrier shipping through Canada Post as well as other courier services. To access these other couriers you can not use a PO Box but must use a physical address. You will see the real-tie pricing and can choose the method of shipping that you would like.
Pre-Umber wants you to enjoy your coffee or merchandise as soon as we can get it to you, so we always strive to send your order out within 24 hours of having received it.
To see the Canada Post delivery standards please follow this link and use our Postal code T4J 1R1. Delivery Standards
Pre-Umber is now shipping to customers in the continental United States of America. We are using Canada Post/USPS for shipping so as to include the greatest number of customers.
We are offering a flat rate shipping fee:
0 - 12 Pounds a flat rate of $20 CND (way cheaper in USD)
12 -20 Pounds a flat rate of $35 CND (still way cheaper in USD)
31-55 Pounds a flat rate of $60 CND (still very cheap in USD)
If you would rather not use the flat rate option you can choose to use Expedited Parcel USA or Xpresspost USA at your own expense.
We do our best to ship all orders within 24 hours of receiving the order and many are shipping within a matter of hours.
We look forward to serving all your home coffee roasting needs.
