Congo Coffee Atlas

Cooperative — North Kivu

Kawa Kabuya coffee origin trail

Kawa Kabuya means "good coffee," per the cooperative's own profile. It is based in Butembo, North Kivu, near Lake Edward and Virunga National Park. Kawa Kivu and Ally Coffee describe about 2,500 members producing fully washed (and honey) Kivu-3 Arabica.

Documented trail

  1. 1

    Region

    North Kivu — Butembo / Lubero–Bashu, Lake Edward 1011

  2. 2

    Producer

    Kawa Kabuya Cooperative 1011

  3. 3

    Exporter / trader

    not publicly documented

  4. 4

    Destination

    Colruyt Group (Belgium) — historical: a three-year supply deal signed March 2017 with Rikolto (Vredeseilanden) brokering the partnership; not confirmed as still active. Ally Coffee (US) — a dated 2018-harvest lot, listed sold out on the importer's own page. The underlying case-study source also describes broader, unnamed European and US buyers with no single buyer named. 11128182

Certifications: Not yet certified — Kawa Kivu's own profile describes this as "in preparation"

Sources disagree

Founding year is reported two ways: Ally Coffee describes founding members in the Lubero and Bashu regions since July 2014; Kawa Kivu's own profile calls it a young cooperative in its fourth year at the time of writing. We show both rather than pick one. 1110

Frequently asked

What is Kawa Kabuya?›

A North Kivu coffee cooperative headquartered in Butembo. Ally Coffee places founding members in the Lubero and Bashu regions and describes growth from one commercial container to multiple specialty and commercial containers, with dozens of micro washing stations. 1110

What altitudes and varieties are cited?›

Kawa Kivu lists 1,450–1,945 m and Bourbon, Catuai, and Ruiru. Ally Coffee's sold-out 2018 lot lists about 1,650 m and "heirloom," washed process. 1011

Who exports Kawa Kabuya coffee?›

Not publicly documented on this registry.

Is there a named café or importer listing?›

Ally Coffee listed a washed 2018 lot — a dated, sold-out listing on that page, not confirmed as a current or repeat offering. 1112

Did Colruyt Group buy Kawa Kabuya coffee?›

Yes, historically: Colruyt Group (Belgium) signed a three-year supply agreement with Kawa Kabuya in March 2017, brokered by Rikolto (Vredeseilanden), with Colruyt pre-financing 60% of the harvest. The coffee went on Colruyt Best Prices and OKay shelves, later also Spar. This is not confirmed as a still-active or present-day retail listing. 8182

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Sources on this page

  1. 10Kawa Kabuya — cooperative profile — Kawa Kivu
  2. 11Kawa Kabuya — Ally Coffee
  3. 12Case Study: Kawa Kabuya — La Différence
  4. 812,200 North Kivu coffee growers export high quality beans to Belgium with the support of Colruyt Group's pre-financing of the harvest — Colruyt Group (press.colruytgroup.com)
  5. 82Congolese coffee growers export second container of coffee to Belgium's biggest retailer, Colruyt Group — Rikolto