Founded by Epiphanie Mukashyaka in 2000 and now managed by her son, Sam Muhirwa, Buf Coffee produces some of our most loved Rwandan coffees. We’ve proudly partnered with Buf since we began sourcing from Rwanda in 2015. Based in the Southern Province, Buf has helped shape the country's specialty coffee industry through a strong focus on quality, innovation, and social responsibility.

In 2023, we had the pleasure of visiting Sam and Epiphanie in Rwanda. After years of working with their coffees, it was a privilege to visit their washing stations and spend time with their team and community.

Epiphanie is a pioneering figure in Rwandan coffee. After losing her husband and one of their children in the 1994 genocide, she went on to become the first Rwandan woman to own a private coffee company. She established Buf’s first washing station, Nyarusiza, in 2003, setting an example that inspired many others to follow.

 

Since then, Buf has expanded to include three additional washing stations—Remera, Umurage, and Ubumwe—along with a dry mill. Today, Buf collects coffee cherries from nearly 7,000 smallholder producers and provides hundreds of seasonal jobs, as well as 35 permanent positions throughout the year.

All of Buf’s stations are located in the Southern Province, where the high altitudes, cool climate, and mineral-rich soil create ideal growing conditions. Their commitment to quality is evident in the cup. Buf’s coffees are known for their juicy acidity and jammy sweetness and have been recognised multiple times in the Cup of Excellence.

Buf supplies the two key Rwandan components in our Good Day blend, Nyamagabe and Ubumwe, which we love for their depth of sweetness. We’ve also featured standout single producer lots from Buf, including Nyarusiza Women’s Coffee and Nyarusiza Kawanziza.

Beyond coffee quality, Buf is deeply committed to the wellbeing of their community. They pay fair prices for cherries and distribute additional profits from their stations among producers and workers. They also run a number of social programs aimed at improving long-term outcomes for their members.

In 2019, Buf opened Umuvumu Kindergarten at Nyarusiza, recognising the importance of early childhood education and helping families work during harvest while their children are cared for in a safe, nurturing environment nearby. Buf also took part in a government initiative to distribute 500 cows to families over five years. These cows provide off-season income, improve nutrition, enrich soil for coffee farming, and carry cultural significance in Rwanda as symbols of wealth and wellbeing.

Buf’s dedication to quality, community, and sustainability continues to inspire us. We’re incredibly proud to partner with them and share their coffees with you.