The National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB) in partnership with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) initiated a coffee competition dubbed, "The Best of Rwanda”.

The competition aims to showcase and promote first-class Rwandan coffee and motivate farmers and Coffee Washing Stations (CWS) to boost their quality.

Sherri Johns, the head judge and an independent coffee consultant with over 40 years of experience in specialty coffee from the United States, stressed the importance of such events in recognising and promoting quality and motivating farmers.

Farmers and CWS were encouraged to submit their best coffee samples, from which a total of 297 samples were obtained, complying with the regulation that each CWS was allowed to provide only two entries, and paving the way to a careful selection of their highest quality beans.

The judging process was thorough and anonymous, ensuring unbiased results, starting with 297 samples, which then narrowed down to 123 top-scoring samples.

The scores were based on attributes such as taste, aroma, flavour, acidity, body, balance, finish, and complexity, much like wine scoring, highlighting that the samples were evaluated without revealing the names of the CWS to maintain objectivity.

The national jurors, consisting of professional-level cuppers, primarily assessed the samples, and after multiple rounds of blind taste tests, they reduced the entries from 297 to 123, then to 40. Finally, the top 40 lots were evaluated by 14 international jurors from around the world (including two Rwandan jurors).

On the first day of the international jury, they narrowed the 40 lots to the top 25 and evaluated the 25 lots again on the second day. Eventually, the top 19 were given special recognition during a grand awarding ceremony on July 6, at the Kigali Convention Centre.

Raphael Karasi, an 81-year-old coffee farmer from NOVA coffee, Gicumbi District, emerged as the top winner in the Best of Rwanda Coffee competition, scoring an impressive 91.86, followed by Vedaste Nzabanterura from Juru coffee, Rulindo District and Felicite Kayitesi from Rwamatamu coffee, Nyamasheke District, who secured second and third places with scores of 90.86 and 90.71, respectively.

Karasi, who has been dedicated to coffee farming for over 20 years, expressed his joy and gratitude to the competition’s organisers for providing a platform that promotes Rwandan coffee globally.

He emphasised how his passion for coffee and mastery of the farming process—from plant care and harvesting to mulching—contributed to his win. His commitment to excellence and the fertile soil of Gicumbi has not only garnered him this accolade but also enabled him to support his three children through university.

"Winning this competition is a testament to the dedication and love I have for coffee farming. It’s an honour to represent Gicumbi and to see Rwandan coffee gaining such international recognition,” Karasi said.

His success story is a beacon of inspiration, showcasing how dedication, expertise, and quality can lead to remarkable achievements in the coffee industry.

At the awarding ceremony, Isao Fukushima, Ambassador of Japan to Rwanda, stated: "The achievements of Rwandan coffee would not be possible without farmers’ tireless efforts and passion for many years. By promoting the reputation of Rwandan coffee in the international market, we are aiming to create incentives and motivation for small coffee farmers to contribute to farmer’s sustainable livelihood.”

In his speech, Claude Bizimana, CEO of NAEB, applauded the Best of Rwanda competition as a pivotal event for the nation’s coffee industry.

Expressing his gratitude, Bizimana acknowledged everyone who contributed to the competition’s success, from the judges who carefully assessed each cup, to talented baristas showcasing their extraordinary skills, and all supporters, especially JICA, Institute for University Cooperation Onlus (ICU), USAID, Starbucks, and others.

He commended the competitors for their outstanding work and the winners for their impressive cupping scores, underlining the event’s role in driving future development and excellence in Rwandan coffee.

Winners’ details will be loaded onto a website, followed by a one-day online auction where global buyers will bid on these premium lots on September 12, 2024.

The gross margin from these sales goes back to the farmers or is shared with the CWS, providing them with a significant financial boost.

Nakajima Kosuke, Chief Advisor of the Project for Strengthening and Promoting Coffee Value Chain in Rwanda (CUP2) at JICA, noted that the Best of Rwanda competition is more than just a contest – it’s a celebration of the country’s coffee heritage and a step towards a brighter future for its coffee industry and by showcasing the Best of Rwanda coffee.

He added that the competition positions the country as a significant global specialty coffee market player.

"This recognition helps Rwandan coffee contest with top producers from other countries and the high prices fetched during the auction return substantial incomes to the farmers and CWS.

"Best of Rwanda can be the permanent platform where producers and consumers are directly matched, and innovations emerge. This financial incentive drives further investment in quality improvements and sustainable agricultural practices,” Hiroaki Sonoda, Marketing Specialist of CUP2, stressed.

The CUP2 project managed by JICA runs from October 2021 to October 2026, focusing on each actor of the whole coffee value chain for the improvement of the quality and profitability of Rwandan coffee.

One of the project pillars is to increase the recognition of Rwandan coffee in the international market, of which Best of Rwanda forms part.