Rwanda Cyato Tropical Punch

We were blown away when this experimental lot from Cyato first hit our cupping table, knowing there and then that it’d be the ultimate gateway into the world of fruit infused coffee. We have tried some interesting infused lots in the past that, although tasty, have slapped our palates with high intensity fruit flavour but then faded fairly quickly. This pineapple infused anaerobic natural shares the brightness and sweetness of these coffees but offers a little more in terms of depth and complexity. Pineapple notes are most certainly present in the cup but they don’t steal the show, making way for hints of mango and a healthy dose of strawberry and lime. Each sip is incredibly hydrating and the lingering fizz in the aftertaste is pineapple-like in nature. This experimental process has truly delivered a coffee of outstanding character and we cannot wait for you to try it!

We have been lucky to establish some incredible relationships with export partners over the last few years who help us to access some of the most amazing coffees. One such example is Tropic Coffee, a company we were introduced to when visiting Rwanda in 2018 as a member of the Cup of Excellence tasting jury. Tropic is headed up by Chris and his wife Divine - together, they own the Cyato washing station which processes the cherries collected by farmers of the Abadatezuka cooperative situated around the infamous Nyungwe forest – well known for outstanding coffee production not only because of its rich fertile soil, but also due to the large population of bees in the area which leave unique microorganisms during pollination creating a distinct flavour profile. The appreciation of the importance of bees in this area means there is no use of synthetic fertilisers or pesticides and farmers are actively educated on how to preserve the presence of pollinators utilising organic techniques.
 
It is safe to say that this is one of the most treasured partnerships we have at North Star hence it being chosen as the site for our latest origin project. A project that has been a couple of years in the making. We were delighted to sponsor the preparation of 8 hectares of land back in 2021 which has since been planted with 20,000 coffee trees. These trees have been distributed amongst 20 young people from the local area, with each receiving harvesting assistance, organic compost and agronomy training in an effort to establish opportunities for them in their hometown – removing the need to migrate to urban areas in search of what are thought to be opportunities that will offer a more certain and viable future than coffee. We aim to change that by developing a relationship with these young producers based on principles of trust, respect, profitability and a desire to restructure traditional buying mechanisms in favour of building an industry that works for everyone.
 
It’ll be a few years before we get to taste the fruits of these budding young producer’s labour, but fear not, in the meantime we have a smorgasbord of coffees from the latest harvest to delight the senses! Three truly outstanding coffees that may be the same varietal but all taste different in their own delicious way. Each lot has been harvested from the surrounding hills of CWS and processed in alternate ways to really showcase the impact processing can have on developing unique and interesting flavour profiles.

Intrigued about our relationship with Tropic Coffee and want to learn more? You can learn more about Cyato Washing Station and our latest impact-led origin project by watching the video above. And stay tuned for an exciting update of all of the above in the coming months!

Once you have placed your order, you will receive an email to confirm it is being processed and then another one to let you know when it has been dispatched. We are currently operating with 3 working day lead time to process your order once you have placed it. 

Royal Mail 2nd class tracked postage is included for orders over £25. Orders under £25 will add £4.10 for 2nd class tracked postage. Alternatively, you have the option to include 1st class tracked postage for £5.

Local pickups take place from the Roastery on Tong Road. Please note our shutter doors will be down for security and temperature reasons but we are always in Monday-Friday between 9 and 5pm – just ring the doorbell on arrival

If you order 1-2 x 250g bags of coffee, they will be sent in a letterbox friendly package so that you do not need to be in to take receipt of your coffee.

Our 250g bags are 100% home compostable including the valve, seal and sticker! They will degrade in 6 months in a well managed home compost.

Our 1kg bags are currently in LDPE plastic - some councils will recycle this for you, if you are unsure simply take it to your local supermarket with your other plastic packaging.