Boyd’s Coffee is introducing a limited-time-only coffee from Africa, Rwanda KOPAKAMA, a 100-percent high-quality Bourbon varietal grown by women who run one of Rwanda’s prime coffee-growing cooperatives. Overcoming market challenges to acquire this coffee, Boyd’s Coffee buyer and fourth-generation Boyd family member Michael Boyd developed a successful partnership with Twin, an organization dedicated to assisting African women with bettering their lives through coffee growing and land ownership. The new coffee will be available only for foodservice accounts.
“Africa produces many of the best coffees in the world,” said Boyd. “We were very fortunate to purchase this special lot of Rwandan coffee.” The KOPAKAMA Women’s Coffee Programme began in 2009, and Twin has provided opportunities for women to join its cooperatives, learn about the coffee market, receive technical training and have more say in spending the proceeds from coffee sales. The Rwanda KOPAKAMA coffee was purchased from the cooperatives that form the KOPAKAMA co-op, which includes coffee from the women who own and work the Ejo Heza co-op located on the shores of Lake Kivu. The women named the land “Ejo Heza,” meaning “a better tomorrow.” Eight percent (20 cents per pound) of the purchase price goes to the co-op for direct farm improvements.
“We’ve always been passionate about supporting organizations that give back to the local community, such as coffee that carries the Rainforest Alliance certified seal,” said Boyd. With the Rwanda KOPAKAMA coffee, we are helping coffee farmers still dealing with the ongoing impact of the Rwandan genocide and giving them a brighter future.”
The Rwanda KOPAKAMA coffee has a honeyed sweetness with complex notes of caramelized tropical fruit. The limited-edition roast is available while supplies last in ground portion packs, 40 packets of 3-ounce coffee per case or in whole bean one-pound packages, 10 packages per case. For any information, contact Boyd’s Coffee at 800-545-4077.
About Boyd’s Coffee: Boyd’s Coffee is one of the oldest family-owned coffee companies in the world. Founded in 1900 in Portland, Oregon, Boyd’s has a long, storied history of helping restaurants, hotels and convenience stores attract and keep customers by providing them with consistently excellent coffee, tea and other beverages.
At Boyd’s, we don’t believe that coffee bestows status or makes a statement about the person who drinks it. We believe that people are capable of making their own statements. We hold that coffee is fuel not fashion. It is what it has always been: a reward for good work, done well and a kick in the pants to get back out there and do some more. That’s the legacy of coffee in America and that’s the Boyd’s legacy as well.
