Our Story

From the Soils of Rwanda

Umuko Coffee may be a new company but our legacy is over 43 years in the making. Jean Christophe (Chris) Rusatira’s family has been growing and processing coffee in Rwanda for more than four decades and during that time their profits have remained extremely low, with little to no improvement to the quality of life in the community. Only 10% of the profit they generate stays in the country. Unfortunately, this experience is standard among coffee growers. Our desire to empower coffee farming communities by disrupting a system that takes so much more than it gives while bringing exceptional coffee to the American market is the force that drives this enterprise.

Umuko is the Kinyarwandan name for a native East African tree species which held great significance  for the people of the region. Umuko branches were used by nomadic herders to kindle fires and when they were ready to move on, they would leave the banked embers nestled in the roots of the tree, ready to aid those who came along after. It is this spirit of sustainability and care that is at the heart of Umuko Coffee’s unique business model.

Umuko Coffee is committed to breaking the cycle of poverty in coffee farming communities who have long suffered from unfair practices in the industry. We recognize that coffee growing and processing is skilled labor and deserves to be compensated as such. This spirit of collaboration and cooperation along the supply chain helps to build strong, sustainable communities that are capable of weathering inevitable challenges and allows farmers to put their focus into growing the finest crops possible.

Simply put, we believe that a thriving community will grow the best possible coffee. Umuko Coffee gives smallholder coffee farmers and processors like Chris’s family a voice and will ensure transparency and connectivity from cherry to cup.