About

This one is a bit different. Drugar stands for Dried Uganda Arabica, coffee that is normally sold on Uganda's domestic market rather than exported, because it is not considered good enough for the international specialty market. Uganda's internal market pays significantly less than exportable-grade coffee, which creates a large income gap for smallholder producers. The team at The Coffee Gardens - Dana, Shak and Michael - saw an opportunity to increase farmer earnings by sourcing and upgrading Drugar alongside rejected lots to export standard, while paying a premium price for it. It was already excellent before we got hold of it, and our colour-sorting technology lifted this lot further still. We bought all 37 sacks, and the result is a coffee bursting with rum punch and cherry Kool-Aid - a vibrant, incredible-value profile. The Coffee Gardens was established in 2017 with the aim of producing specialty-grade coffees ethically, through transparent and direct connections between farmer and consumer. The initiative supports improved farmer income, rural employment generation, gender equality, supply chain transparency, environmental stewardship and training in agricultural best practice. Elevation: 1400-2300 Metres Above Sea Level. Varietal: SL14, SL28, Nyasaland. Cup Score: 87. Price paid per kilo: GBP 7. Process: Fully natural, home-dried by coffee-growing smallholders.