Our Cooperative

Origin

A distinctive origin in the heart of the South Kivu mountains

Located in the Kalehe territory, on the hills bordering Lake Kivu in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo, the KACCO cooperative was founded in 2013. It brings together smallholder coffee farmers committed to producing quality Arabica, grown in an exceptional high-altitude terroir.

In this mountainous region, characterized by fertile volcanic soils and a temperate climate, farmers have grown coffee for generations on small family plots between 1,500 and 2,000 meters of altitude. These unique natural conditions produce coffee with distinctive aromatic profiles, reflecting the full richness of the Kalehe terroir.

Our story

A story of resilience and hope

Kalehe coffee is far more than a cash crop: it is a source of dignity and hope for rural communities. Despite the challenges of recurring armed conflict in eastern DRC, farmers — both women and men — have shown remarkable resilience.

They kept tending their coffee trees and cultivating their land, convinced that coffee could remain a driver of hope, stability and development for their families and communities. It was in this spirit of solidarity and determination that the KACCO cooperative was born in 2013.

Spec sheet

Origin, processing and quality

Origin

Kalehe, South Kivu / DRC

Altitude

1,500 – 2,000 m

Farmers supported

3,179, of which 993 women

Coffee trees

6,977,718

Cultivated area

649.8 hectares

Varieties

Arabica — mainly Bourbon, blended with local varieties (Mulungu, Kabare16…)

Farming system

Traditional agroforestry

Process

Fully washed (washing stations), semi-washed (home process)

Drying method

Natural open-air drying and shade drying (greenhouse) for micro-lots

Cupping score & profile

84–87 — fruity, honeyed notes, natural sweetness, bright acidity and balanced body

Classification (DRC)

K3, K4 and K7

Washing stations

3 main stations, 4 micro-stations

Estimated annual production

403.2 tons of green coffee

Harvest

Main: Feb–June. Secondary: Oct–Dec

Export

May–Aug and Dec–Jan, FOT/DR Congo or FOB/Mombasa (Kenya)

Sustainability

Certifications & sustainability standards

C.A.F.E. Practices — currently valid
Rainforest Alliance — in preparation
Organic — in preparation
EUDR — in progress of compliance
Fairtrade — planned

Environment

Preserving the coffee terroir

Kalehe's coffee trees are grown in traditional agroforestry systems with no chemical inputs (100% natural), shaded by native and fruit trees, often intercropped with food crops such as legumes and bananas.