Rwanda

Cyesha

About 

Cyesha

Highlights

Cyesha Washing Station

  • Stunning natural and washed profiles: tropical, floral, and fruit-driven
  • Lake Kivu’s microclimate ideal for slow and even drying
  • Smallholders supported with seedling rejuvenation and shade tree distribution

A New Chapter on the Shores of Lake Kivu

On the forested hills of Rwanda’s Western Province, nestled near the tranquil shores of Lake Kivu, the Cyesha Coffee Washing Station represents a new chapter in Rwanda’s specialty coffee rise. Located in the Nyamasheke District, the station operates in the Macuba Sector—a region known for its biodiversity and altitudes ranging from 1450 to 1750 meters. Since its establishment in 2022, Cyesha has become a vibrant outpost in Rwanda’s specialty scene, harnessing the natural terroir and community spirit to produce coffees of remarkable quality.

The Journey Behind Muraho

Cyesha is operated by Muraho, founded by brothers Karthick and Gaudam Anbalagan. Raised in Uganda and educated in New Zealand, their journey is one of reconnection and revival. Driven by a passion for their homeland and a love for specialty coffee discovered abroad, the Anbalagan brothers returned to Rwanda with a vision: to elevate Rwandan coffee to global recognition. Muraho has become a pioneer of processing innovation in Rwanda, and Cyesha Station is their latest expression of this ambition.

“When we started, Rwanda coffee was not on peoples’ mind/radar in regard to specialty, on the contrary, everyone was referring to the potato taste and inconsistent quality when talking about Rwandan coffees. Muraho was literally the first company in Rwanda that applied for an export license for natural and honey process coffees in 2016. So, one of the aspects that amazes us the most is how far our team and our farmers we partner with have come to showcase the potential, introduce new processes and enhance more complex flavor profiles, and how well this has been received by our buyers.” said Gaudam during our interview.

How Cyesha Coffees Are Crafted

The station works with approximately 470 smallholder farmers who deliver cherry during the harvest from March to May. Cyesha handles fully washed, honey, and natural processing, supported by Penagos Ecoline pulping equipment, dual water tanks, and 54 raised drying beds. The microclimate—cool lake winds, steady rainfall, and ample sunlight—creates ideal conditions for drying naturals slowly and evenly.

Farming on Sandy Soils

Notably, the soils around Cyesha are sandy and rocky conditions that challenge water retention but also shape unique agricultural patterns. Coffee remains the primary income source, with limited options beyond tomatoes or small-scale fishing. To mitigate dry season stresses, farmers interplant banana trees, which act as natural water reservoirs and offer both shade and food.

Technical

Information

Region

nyamasheke

Processes

Washed, Natural

Varieties

Red Bourbon

Altitude

1450 - 1750 masl.

Producer

470 Smallholder

Soil Type

Volcanic

Cupping notes

Flavor Profiles That Speak for Themselves

Red Bourbon cherries are processed with care, and their vibrant fruit character consistently shines. The resulting profiles are expressive and dynamic. Cyesha’s natural lots brim with tropical clarity—lychee, tamarind, melon, and berry, often supported by floral aromatics and long, sweet finishes. Meanwhile, washed lots offer clean elegance—stonefruit, citrus, chocolate, and floral layers—with vibrant acidity and a silky-smooth mouthfeel. Overall, these coffees present high sweetness, long aftertaste, and remarkable clarity.

Putting Sustainability Into Practice

Muraho’s sustainability efforts focus on regenerative agriculture. They compost coffee pulp into manure with organic agents and redistribute it to farmers. Additionally, through a partnership with One Acre Fund’s Tubura program, Muraho enables farmers to access lime and fertilizer at interest-free rates. The washing station acts as a financial guarantor, which is rare among Rwandan stations.

Shade and Agroforestry Initiatives

Muraho promotes climate resilience through agroforestry. In 2024, 11,038 shade trees were distributed across Muraho’s four Nyamasheke stations—Cyesha alone received 2,280 trees. Yet due to sandy soils, many farmers prefer banana trees, which better support water retention and household food security.

Empowering Through Employment and Equity

Muraho offers full-year contracts to key staff such as managers, cashiers, and machine operators—unlike the common seasonal employment model. This approach builds team consistency and fosters loyalty. All full-time staff also receive health insurance for themselves and their dependents, and they can access affordable loans for personal development projects. While the daily wage for casual labor remains low, Muraho employs over 100 individuals daily during harvest season, delivering vital income for local families.

Trabocca & Muraho: A Shared Vision

At Trabocca, we began sourcing from Muraho in 2023, and Cyesha has been part of our selection ever since. We deeply value this partnership for its alignment with our core values—transparency, traceability, and long-term commitment. Moreover, Muraho’s proactive sustainability approach is demonstrated in our shared pilot: Cyesha is testing our first EUDR-conform import, even before the legislation comes into force. This forward-thinking mindset cements our trust and collaboration.

Building Community Through Regeneration

From the outset, Muraho has envisioned an inclusive ecosystem where farmers, staff, and partners thrive together. Their approach emphasizes listening, responding, and co-developing solutions. For instance, after destructive landslides in 2020, Muraho mobilized global support to rebuild homes, restart nurseries, and restore farms. In 2023, they launched Kilimbi Coffee Farm as a regenerative model. Now, that same energy is nurturing Cyesha—one of Rwanda’s most promising hubs for quality, sustainability, and shared prosperity.

Cyesha

Cyesha is a vibrant washing station near Lake Kivu in Rwanda’s Western Province. Its sandy volcanic soils and lake winds produce expressive Red Bourbon coffees—think juicy naturals with tropical clarity and washed lots with crisp florals. We've sourced Cyesha every year since 2023 and value Muraho, the exporter behind, as a trusted partner with shared values and proactive innovation.

  • Station was only established in 2022
  • Expressive natural and washed profiles: tropical, floral, and fruit-driven
  • Innovative partnership with One Acre Fund offering fertilizers at interest-free rates
  • Over 2,000 shade trees distributed to Cyesha farmers in 2024
  • Trabocca and Muraho pilot EUDR-compliant import together in 2025

in pursuit of great coffee.