Table of contents
Bugisu
$ 10+
| Flavor | High in acidity with hints of citrus, primarily orange. |
| Grown In | Uganda |
Have you ever heard about coffee from Uganda? If not, then this guide is specially written for you. The beans originating from this country are called Bugisu. This coffee is a wonderful find for dark roast lovers and that’s why the majority of coffee lovers from around the world enjoy this particular variety.
Bugisu is an area in eastern Uganda where coffee is cultivated at relatively high heights (somewhere between 4,200 to 8,500 feet) on Mount Elgon’s slopes. Uganda is a landlocked East African country bordered by Kenya, Rwanda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. To put it in a few words, Bugisu is a sub-variety of Arabica beans and surprisingly, currently, it is in pretty high demand. The main reason behind it is the fact that it provides you with unique and interesting features. In your cup of coffee, you can identify fruity, and winey notes that are typical for East African coffees.
Uganda’s agricultural system is similar to that of Ethiopia and Kenya. Because smallholders with less than 2.5 hectares farm 80 percent of all coffee crops, Uganda has enormous potential to develop high-quality, small-lot specialty coffees. Let’s find out more about it together through this article.
Uganda is mostly known for producing Robusta coffee beans. Commercial coffee production dates back to the early twentieth century, meaning that the country has a pretty rich history. Currently, there are some organizations there that aim to improve Uganda’s coffee quality by creating washing stations and other infrastructure in the region.
The majority of activity in Uganda takes place in the west, near the Rwenzori Mountains. The most significant distinction between East and West is that Mount Elgon is a more established and competitive market. The majority of growers are tiny, with less than 2.5 hectares of land under cultivation. Because of their small size, families do virtually all of the work. Farming families handpick ripe cherries and pulp them using hand pulpers. New attempts are being launched to make environmentally-friendly integrated pulping technologies more widely available. Coffee is fermented before being cleaned with clean water. After that, the parchment is put out to dry on patios or raised beds.
The good news is that you can find a lot of AA-grade coffee in the country. In Uganda, the term AA refers to both bean quality and size. AA indicates that 90% of the beans in a batch are larger than screen 17, or 6.75 millimeters. The letter AA also indicates that there is a 5% fault tolerance.
With an ever-increasing demand for high-quality Arabicas and continued interest from coffee lovers and roasters in Uganda, Bugisu is very likely to join the ranks of the other outstanding East African coffees.
If you are already intrigued by Bugisu coffee beans, then it is natural for you to look for the best Bugisu coffee brands. In my opinion, it is the best idea for you to search for products on Amazon, as it offers a big number of high-quality products. In order to save your time, we have already researched some of the most reputable companies available from Uganda. You can easily check them out in the list down below.
We pay attention to the following:
For more detailed information on how exactly we rate the coffee products we suggest in our guides, click here.
How can one guess which product is the best for their needs? Well, I guess that simply naming our favorite brands will not be enough for you to find out whether a specific product is worth your attention. In this part of the guide, we offer you individual overviews of our top choices, so you are able to identify the one that suits your preferences the best.
|
Price: $37.95 (subject to change) |
|
Size: 5 pounds |
|
Type: Bugisu |
|
Roast: Unroasted |
|
Producer: Grand Parade |
|
Beans: Whole |
The first on our list is Grand Parade Unroasted Bugisu coffee. I believe that this product is a perfect option for anyone who wishes to be involved in every part of coffee-making. As the beans are unroasted, it means that you will have to roast them yourself – This gives you the ability to control the overall taste to your liking.
As for the taste, in your cup of coffee, you will be able to find rich cocoa notes that are typical for Bugisu coffee beans. From my experience, this product produces the best taste when brewed using an Espresso machine, however, you are free to try other techniques as well. Before brewing, I recommend roasting it to medium-level, especially if you are a beginner.
One of my favorite things about this product is the fact that it is pretty affordable. The price might look expensive at first but once you see the size of the bag along with the quality of your cup, you will realize that it’s very reasonable.
|
Price: $35.99 (subject to change) |
|
Size: 2.2 pounds |
|
Type: Bugisu |
|
Roast: Medium |
|
Producer: Carico Cafe Connoisseur |
|
Beans: Whole |
Carico Cafe’s Bugisu Blue coffee is made entirely of Arabica beans cultivated at high altitudes in Eastern Uganda. Before the final product is made, the coffee is wet-processed to produce a delicate clear flavor with a consistent character. It is skillfully hand-roasted to optimize taste and fragrance, resulting in a crazily fresh coffee brew. In your cup, you are going to discover almond, dried plum, and lime undertones.
By purchasing this coffee, you will not only be providing a lot for your own pleasure but will also support farming communities in Uganda, which sounds pretty exciting to me. Before buying this one, I was a little concerned as it has no customer reviews on Amazon, however, that did not stop me. One thing I would like to mention is that the product is very pricey – For a 2.2-pound package, you will have to pay $35.99. For that price, I expected something different and intriguing. Although the overall quality of Carico Uganda Bugisu is satisfactory, it might be a better idea to check out other options as well.
|
Price: $13.99 (subject to change) |
|
Size: 12 ounces |
|
Type: Bugisu |
|
Roast: Dark |
|
Producer: Three Avocados |
|
Beans: Whole |
And we are happy to finish our list with Three Avocados Ugandan Bugisu, which is one of the most affordable brands available on Amazon right now. The beans come directly from Uganda – Although it is true that this region’s beans grow slower than harvests at lower elevations, it is definitely worth the wait since they have reduced acidity and excellent flavor. You’ll get a fantastic strong, earthy flavor with notes of dark chocolate.
This product will be most suitable for fresh coffee lovers. Generally, everyone agrees that whole beans retain their taste for a longer period of time. You have the possibility to grind it whatever you like, from extra coarse for French press coffee to extremely fine for Turkish coffee.
I believe that it will be impossible for you to find something to dislike about this one. It is fresh, good tasting, and affordable. What more can one ask for? If you want to discover the authentic taste of Bugisu coffee beans, then this one is definitely worth considering.
