Big things are happening in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The first-ever Best of Congo competition just wrapped up, and it’s already making waves. We’ve known for a little while that the Congo is producing some of the best coffee in the world, and the global coffee scene is on the brink of discovering it, too.

A trailblazing competition for cooperatives

The Best of Congo was all about spotlighting the country’s top coffee producers and giving them the recognition they deserve. Ten co-operatives from the Lake Kivu region went head-to-head, submitting their finest micro-lots to be cupped, judged, and scored by coffee professional panels in both London and Goma.

If you’ve tasted any of our coffees from the Lake Kivu region, you’ll know the incredible standard of quality its climate produces. And the results were mind-blowing.

The winning coffee from Muungano Cooperative scored an incredible 85.63 points (out of 100), securing the top spot. But the bigger picture is that this competition proved that Congo’s speciality coffee game is one to be reckoned with.

Why this matters

For years, Congolese coffee has been one of the industry’s best-kept secrets. Farmers have been growing incredible coffee in challenging conditions, often without access to the infrastructure or markets that would allow their beans to shine on the world stage. 

This competition is changing that narrative. It’s connecting producers with roasters and raising the value of Congolese coffee. Proving that this origin is worth watching.

At the silent auction that followed the competition, every coffee sold at or above the reserve price of $7 per kilo – a massive win for producers. And with buyers lining up for these micro-lots, this is just the beginning.

Muungano: a coffee worth celebrating

We’re beyond excited to announce that – after a fierce bidding war – we’ve just released the winning coffee from Muungano as a limited edition. It’s a coffee that tells a story of resilience, passion, and peak craftsmanship. If you’ve never tasted our Congolese coffee before, this is your chance to experience one of the best the country has to offer.

The Best of Congo competition is building a future for Congolese producers. Elevating the country’s reputation in speciality coffee and making sure these exceptional coffees get the recognition (and the prices) they deserve.

Congo is stepping into the speciality coffee spotlight, and trust us – you don’t want to miss out on it.