Coffee lovers in Vietnam will soon be able to enjoy a new organic coffee, while helping revitalize one of the world’s most fragile farming regions.

The Reviving Origins KAHAWA ya CONGO coffee (‘Hope of Congo’) from Nespresso is a smooth and fruity seasonal blend, grown on the rain-rich volcanic soils of Lake Kivu in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) where the once-thriving coffee farming community has been devastated by decades of political and economic instability.

The KAHAWA ya CONGO coffee is the first organic blend in Nespresso’s Reviving Origins program, its long-term approach to restore coffee production in regions impacted by adversities such as conflict, economic hardship, and environmental disasters.

Since its launch in 2019, the program has enabled production of exceptional coffees from challenged areas of Zimbabwe, Uganda, Colombia and now, the DRC, to become available as seasonal coffees for Nespresso coffee lovers.

The brand’s unique sustainable sourcing model in coffee producing countries, the Nespresso AAA Sustainable Quality™ Program, provides the foundation for its work in Reviving Origins regions and involves more than 110,000 farmers across the world.

“We’re delighted to introduce one of the world’s finest and most exclusive blends to consumers,” said Fabio De Gregorio, regional business development manager.

“Through our Reviving Origins program, we’re helping the farmers of Kivu to restore Congolese coffee to its full glory and rebuild their livelihoods, while bringing vital social support to enhance the welfare of the communities behind our KAHAWA ya CONGO coffee.

“With this blend, consumers can enjoy a truly unique taste experience, and play an important role in reviving coffee and communities in the DRC after decades of conflict and economic instability.”

Reviving coffee and communities in Kivu

Just four decades ago, coffee was the second-most important export for the DRC and ranked among the world’s finest, but years of upheaval have led to coffee volumes falling 10-fold since 1980.

For many hard-working communities that have farmed these lands for generations, their way of life is now at risk of disappearing.

Nespresso, together with global non-profit TechnoServe, the U.S Agency for International Development (USAID), and coffee trader Virunga Coffee/Olam International, is working with 2,500 farmers in South Kivu to improve coffee quality and yield, and embed sustainable farming practices, while increasing incomes.

Nespresso is also in the process of expanding the program across North Kivu to potentially include up to 1,700 organic certified farmers.

“I see my remaining days being better than those in the past, because I am going to work, assured of receiving regular pay and a bonus each time after the coffee sale,” said Kivu coffee farmer Turanyi Kabasura.

“In my whole life, no one has ever given me such a bonus.

“I can use that to develop other strategies, such as raising small livestock, or my wife can run a small business.

“I am starting to see the results of my work.”

The project also goes beyond coffee, with plans in place to tackle healthcare challenges impacting farming communities in the DRC.

In partnership with the Eastern Congo Initiative (ECI), Nespresso is investing CHF 1 million in supporting the establishment of 23 water access points across the Kivu region, in addition to one primary and five mobile health clinics, which will deliver 13,000 health consultations per year to local communities, helping in the fight against cholera, a major health issue in the country.

An exquisite taste experience

The rain-rich volcanic soils along the Kivu lakeshores of the Eastern Congo are ideal for growing specialty arabica.

The Organic KAHAWA ya CONGO coffee is split roast, meaning that a small portion of the beans gets a darker roast to bring out the full intensity and body of the coffee.

In cups, the smooth and balanced arabica reveals alluring sweet cereal and nutty aromas, reflecting its ideal terroir origin.

With milk, meanwhile, these aromas are transformed into a light, sweet, and creamy cup full of biscuity notes, a hint of walnut, and a silky texture.

KAHAWA ya CONGO has an intensity of eight as a Double Espresso. It is available online and at Nespresso boutiques from September 13.

Flourishing variety

Alongside this launch, Nespresso is reintroducing three other seasonal Reviving Origins coffees for 2021, helping bring long-term economic stability to local farmers, as well as showcasing their craftsmanship to the world:

* AMAHA awe UGANDA – a single origin coffee with medium acidity and body, grown in the Rwenzori Mountains of Uganda

* TAMUKA mu ZIMBABWE – a flowery espresso from the famous Honde Valley in Zimbabwe’s eastern highlands

* ESPERANZA de COLOMBIA – a rich and balanced arabica espresso, with fruity notes and fine acidity, from the Colombian regions of El Rosario and Caquetá

For further details on these coffees and Nespresso activities, please visit https://www.nespresso.vn.

About the Reviving Origins program

Nespresso first discovered the potential of reviving a forgotten coffee when it ventured to South Sudan in 2011. The limited edition SULUJA ti SOUTH SUDAN became the country’s second export after oil in 2015 and 2016, and helped to diversify the economic base of the world’s youngest nation.

In 2016, Nespresso launched the limited edition AURORA de la PAZ, its first coffee from Caquetá, Colombia, and CAFECITO de CUBA, the first Cuban coffee to come to the United States in more than fifty years (exclusive for the U.S.).

In 2019, Nespresso officially launched its Reviving Origins program alongside new single-origin coffees from Eastern Zimbabwe – TAMUKA mu ZIMBABWE – and Colombia – ESPERANZA de COLOMBIA – followed by Puerto Rico – CAFECITO de PUERTO RICO.

In 2020, Nespresso introduced AMAHA awe UGANDA from the Rwenzori Mountains regions of Uganda, and now KAHAWA ya CONGO from the Kivu region of the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

About Nestlé Nespresso

Nestlé Nespresso SA is the pioneer and reference for highest-quality portioned coffee. The company works with more than 110,000 farmers in 15 countries through its AAA Sustainable Quality™ Program to embed sustainability practices on farms and the surrounding landscapes.

Launched in 2003 in collaboration with the NGO Rainforest Alliance, the program helps to improve the yield and quality of harvests, ensuring a sustainable supply of high-quality coffee and improving livelihoods of farmers and their communities.

Headquartered in Lausanne, Switzerland, Nespresso operates in 82 countries and has over 13,900 employees. The global retail network currently operates 809 boutiques in 532 cities. For more information, visit the Nespresso corporate website: www.nestle-nespresso.com.