Richard Grivas has been running the Mwangoka coffee farm for more than 20 years, continuing his family’s legacy as second-generation farmers. What sets Richard apart? He’s not just focused on growing coffee: he’s dedicated to growing quality coffee while making life better for his entire community. Each harvest season, he brings on more than 200 seasonal workers to handpick only the ripest cherries from his trees.

The Mwangoka estate is a bit unusual for Tanzania, at just under 1,000 acres, it’s one of the larger coffee farms in a country where most coffee comes from much smaller family plots. Richard plants about 200 coffee trees per acre, giving each tree the space and attention it needs to thrive.

About This Coffee

These beans come exclusively from Bourbon varietal trees, smaller trees that consistently deliver exceptional quality in the cup. Bourbon is one of the most important coffee varieties in the world, prized for both its genetics and its rich history in coffee cultivation.

This lot was washed processed, which brings out the truest expression of the region’s unique characteristics. Through careful fermentation and drying, the distinct qualities of this high-altitude Tanzanian coffee really shine through, creating that clean, smooth profile that makes it so easy to enjoy.

Grown in the Songwe Region’s Mbozi District at elevations between 4,700 and 6,000 feet, this coffee has a lighter body with bright acidity and a refreshingly clean finish.

Tanzania’s Coffee Story

Tanzania is one of Africa’s largest countries and produces as much coffee as its famous neighbor, Kenya. While Tanzania sometimes gets overshadowed by other African coffee regions (partly due to changing political climates and trade policies) the coffee industry here is actually thriving. Production has grown 20-25% since 2023.

Coffee remains Tanzania’s most important cash crop, directly or indirectly supporting about 6-7% of the country’s 56 million people. More than 40% of Tanzania’s farmers grow coffee, mostly on small plots averaging just 1.5 acres. The top markets for Tanzanian coffee? The EU, Japan, and the United States.

What to Expect in Your Cup

You’ll find a smooth, light body with pleasant acidity and that signature clean finish. The flavor profile is wonderfully complex: black currant, dried fig, cocoa powder, black tea, brown sugar, with just a hint of lemon and lime to brighten things up.