Arabica from the shores of Lake Kivu
Eastern DR Congo grows some of Africa’s most characterful Arabica. Volcanic soils, altitude and the temperate climate of Lake Kivu give a coffee of depth and sweetness, grown mostly by smallholders on small plots.
We source washed Arabica in North and South Kivu through our own team and partner cooperatives, and prepare it at origin to export standard.
Specification
| Species / varieties | Arabica: traditional Bourbon, Jackson and Mibirizi |
| Process | washed (natural on request) |
| Grade | screen 15+, sorted at origin |
| Moisture | 10.0 – 12.5 % (target 10.5 – 11.5 %) |
| Altitude | 1,500 – 2,000 m and above |
| Region | North and South Kivu, DR Congo |
| Packing | 60 kg jute bags |
| Routes | via Kampala – Mombasa or Dar es Salaam |
| EUDR | plot geolocation per lot |
Typical specification. Each lot is confirmed by a pre-shipment sample and stated in the contract.
Our own farm near Bukavu – the start
Near Bukavu, on the hills above Lake Kivu, we have started our own coffee farm. It is a modest beginning: a first planting of traditional Arabica varieties – Bourbon, Jackson and Mibirizi – on land surveyed in 2026. Our plans are much bigger: to grow the planted area step by step, add our own wet processing, and work with neighbouring smallholders so that more Kivu coffee reaches Europe, fully traceable.
Sourcing in Kivu
Our office in Beni and our partners in South Kivu work directly with farms and cooperatives. Lots are sampled and checked before we commit, and moved through Uganda or Tanzania to Europe.
Prepared for export at origin
A coffee only becomes exportable after preparation: hulling, screening, density sorting and hand sorting, with moisture measured before bagging. Our own export specification follows ISO 10470 and the East African standard EAS 130.
EUDR traceability
Plots are registered with consent and GPS boundaries in our own field app, and every lot is linked to its plots of origin. Farmers register for free. More on www.mdtrade.cd/eudr.
Bukavu and Lake Kivu
South Kivu, where our own farm project is taking shape.
Prices and current lots are for the trade
Roasters, importers, traders and processors can request access to see prices, stock positions and samples.
Request market access Contact us