About the Origin This AA from the Shiviwaka Cooperative stands out as one of the finest African coffees we’ve cupped this year. Shiviwaka was established to empower smallholder farmers, helping them bring their coffee to market while creating positive change for Tanzania’s coffee growers, their families, communities, and the environment. Shiviwaka Coop Shiviwaka represents over 8,500 coffee farmers across Mbeya, Mbozi, Ileje, and Rungwe District Councils in Tanzania. Registered in 2009 as a farmer-owned Non-Governmental Organization under the 2002 NGO Act, it gained additional status in 2014 as a company limited by guarantee with no share capital. The cooperative supports its members by optimizing coffee marketing, educating farmers on price fluctuations and quality standards, and connecting them with international buyers. Its core mission is to build local capacity, advance agricultural development — including coffee, other crops, and good animal husbandry — and reduce poverty by harnessing the community’s economic, social, and professional strengths. Grown in the Arusha region of northern Tanzania, near the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro, this coffee thrives in rich volcanic soils and ideal growing conditions, producing a vibrant and distinctive cup. Cup profile This washed coffee is quintessential Tanzania, pure and straightforward. On the nose, it greets you with sweet vanilla and coconut, complemented by a hint of honeydew melon. That sweetness carries through to the palate, where creamy vanilla melds with rich chocolate and melted butter. The acidity is bright and citrus-driven, while the body remains delicate and silky. It’s reminiscent of an exceptional Kenya AA, though we haven’t tasted a Kenya this vibrant in quite some time. Suggested Extraction Method(s) Good for Drip/Filter Good for Espresso Additional Information Region: Arusha Species: Arabica Cultivar: Bourbon / Kent Screen Size: 11-18 Processing: Washed Altitude: 1700 meters above sea level