This annual competition is organized to recognize farmers, processors, and exporters of coffee, promote Rwandan coffee internationally, and increase its market value. The 2025 edition took place on August 13, 2025.
NAEB’s Chief Executive Officer, Claude Bizimana, said that the purpose of organizing such competitions is not only to reward farmers but also to encourage them to keep producing high-quality, specially processed coffee.
“It’s an opportunity to appreciate farmers and coffee processing companies for the way they work to ensure quality coffee, and the efforts they put into perfecting the processing methods. We have seen that specially processed coffee consistently performs better than the standard ‘fully washed’ coffee.” He explained.
The coffee that ranked first this year was from K Organic Company, based in Huye District, which grows and processes organic coffee. This was the company’s first time entering its coffee into the market, and it emerged as the overall winner.
Other coffees that ranked highly included Rwamatamu Coffee from Muhanga District, KivuBelt Coffee from Nyamasheke District, Simbi Coffee from Huye District, Tropic Coffee from Nyamagabe District, and Mahembe Coffee from Nyamasheke District.
Ignace Ndayahundwa, head of the organic coffee cultivation and processing project at K Organic Company, said that winning an award for their first marketed harvest shows that the years spent perfecting their processing methods were worthwhile.
He noted that growing and processing organic coffee is costly and labor-intensive, but this win will give them even more motivation.
“Organic coffee farming is demanding because we use organic fertilizers, which are more expensive than chemical fertilizers, and we control pests using plant-based remedies instead of synthetic chemicals. This increases costs, and organic coffee trees also produce fewer cherries compared to those grown with chemical fertilizers. But winning proves that our hard work has paid off.” He said.
Olivier Kamana, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, said that any farmer who works diligently will eventually see their coffee recognized, because Rwanda offers opportunities for all.
“Through hard work, attention to detail, dedication, and innovation, every farmer has the chance to compete internationally. The changing list of winners each year shows that anyone can make it.” he said.
The 2025 competition attracted 316 coffee entries from across the country. From these, 50 advanced to the national finals, where the top 20 were selected. These winning coffees will be sold to buyers around the world in a technology-based international auction scheduled for October 8, 2025.
Last year’s winning coffee came from NOVA Coffee Ltd in Bukure Sector, Gicumbi District. In the 2024 auction, its coffee sold for USD 100 per kilogram, one of the highest prices ever achieved for Rwandan coffee.
