Our Values

Cofounder of Umuko Coffee, Jean Christophe Rusatira (a.k.a Chris) knows what it’s like to be a coffee farmer in Rwanda. Decades of seeing his family get underpaid for their coffee and the instability that this creates have inspired him to build a different kind of coffee business, one that raises the quality of life for the farmers and their communities. Umuko is committed to paying a living wage and putting the dignity and wellbeing of farmers first.

When coffee trees are part of healthy, diverse ecosystems, they produce healthy, rich coffee beans. We believe this principle applies to all aspects of life, including business. We celebrate the diversity of our team and draw from our wide ranging backgrounds, experiences, and connections to create a healthy company that does good in the world.

We believe  that investing in the health and wellbeing of our partnered farmers creates an ideal foundation for producing the best coffee. Our care extends beyond the growing and processing of coffee into the communities of the farmers. In that spirit we support local healthcare and social community programs to contribute stronger, more resilient families and neighborhoods.

Umuko strives to contribute to regenerative ecologies by using gentle, environmentally friendly practices for growing, harvesting and processing our coffees. We recognize that human culture must transition to more sustainable practices if we are to thrive in harmony with the natural world, and we are dedicated to using our business as an instrument to contribute positively to this shift.