Located in Rwanda’s Nyamasheke District, Rugali Washing Station has quickly established itself as a standout player in the world of specialty coffee. Since its opening in April 2016, Rugali has grown to produce an impressive 54,000 kg of milled green coffee annually, with lots regularly featured in international competitions.
One of Rugali’s greatest strengths lies in its drying environment. Coffee is laid on raised beds during the sunniest part of the day, between 12 pm and 3 pm, ensuring consistent and optimal drying. This meticulous approach results in clean, vibrant coffees with excellent shelf stability and cup clarity.
Together with its smaller sister station, Kilimbi, Rugali made history by becoming one of the first stations in Rwanda to legally export natural and honey processed coffees, helping to pave the way for more diverse processing techniques in the country. Despite continued monitoring by Rwanda’s National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB), Rugali’s elevation and microclimate make it an ideal site for producing exceptional natural and honey lots.
Rugali’s success has helped put the Nyamasheke District on the map as a source of high-quality Rwandan coffees, with its lots often showcasing refined fruit sweetness, floral tones, and balanced acidity.
Whether processed as washed, natural, or honey, coffees from Rugali represent the next chapter in Rwanda’s specialty coffee story - full of innovation, quality, and a commitment to progress.
