Origin: Rwanda
Farm/Region: Lake Kivu
Tasting Notes: Mandarin, Chamomile, Vanilla Cream Wafer
Producer: Emmanuel Rwakagara
Varietal: Bourbon
Processing: Washed
Altitude: 1650 MASL
Every now and then, a coffee comes along that feels truly extraordinary—and Gishamwana Island is exactly that. Grown on a secluded island in the middle of Lake Kivu, this Rwandan release is delicate, refined and distinctively sweet. With notes of mandarin, chamomile, and vanilla cream wafer, this washed Bourbon is crisp and elegant, with a lingering, silky finish. It’s a beautiful representation of the terroir, care, and innovation behind it—and we’re excited to share its story.
Single Origin Filter Coffee Description
Just a short boat ride from the shores of Lake Kivu, Gishamwana Island appears like a mirage: a lush, biodiverse haven that’s home to over 35,000 coffee trees. Entirely self-contained, the island houses not only the trees but the mill and drying beds as well—making it one of the few places in the world where coffee can be processed without ever leaving the place it’s grown.
Owned by Emmanuel Rwakagara, founder of COOPAC, this island estate is as much a sanctuary as it is a farm. The coffee is grown organically under heavy forest canopy, with cows, goats and even an albino rabbit roaming freely among the trees. Thanks to its isolation, Gishamwana Island has remained untouched by many of the diseases and pests that affect coffee on the mainland.
The coffee is carefully harvested at peak ripeness before undergoing an extensive washed process. This includes dry fermentation, wet fermentation, soaking, and meticulous sorting through water channels before drying for up to three weeks on raised beds. The result is a cup that’s clean, sweet, and wonderfully expressive—offering a refined profile with delicate structure and crisp, bright clarity.
COOPAC, the cooperative behind this project, has long been a leader in Rwandan specialty coffee. Since 2001, it’s grown from 110 members to over 8,000 farmers, with six washing stations operating along the northern edge of Lake Kivu. Alongside its commitment to quality, COOPAC invests deeply in its communities—building schools and health clinics, supporting infrastructure development, and helping farmers through livestock distribution and agronomic support.
With its unique provenance, careful processing, and vibrant character, Gishamwana Island is a special addition to our line-up—and one we’re thrilled to offer.
Coffee Breakdown
Rwanda Gishamwana Island 100%
Washed Bourbon – grown and handpicked on Gishamwana Island in Lake Kivu at 1,650 MASL.
In The Cup
MANDARIN, CHAMOMILE, VANILLA CREAM WAFER
V60 Filter Recipe
- DOSE – 18g
- YIELD – 300g
- TIME – 2:50 mins
- TEMP – 92°C
- RATIO – 1:16.5
We’ve created our filter recipes as a guide to help you achieve the same great flavours we experience in our coffees. If you are unable to reproduce the exact result on your manual brewing gear, don’t panic, an alternative is to simply adjust your recipe using the ratio so it works best for your set up.