Congo Coffee Beans – What’s So Special About Them?

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a war-torn country that, although being just one of Africa’s richest in terms of resources, is most recognized for its volatility and poverty. These resources comprise fertile farming grounds, which have the potential to make the DRC one of Africa’s leading coffee producers.

Congo’s social and political situation has had a severe impact on coffee cultivation, and the area’s coffee farming prospects. While several unions have stepped in to assist sell the DRC’s coffee to overseas customers, farmers claim it is difficult for them to make a livelihood by cultivating coffee. Nonetheless, high-quality coffee still may be obtained in the DRC. The majority of the crop is Robusta, although the DRC also grows bright, lemony Arabica beans.

There is a list of all popular varieties that grow in the country:

In this Congolese coffee review, we will further talk about what are the top 5 Congolese Coffee Brands on Amazon, where do they grow coffee in the Congo and what are the recommended machines for brewing Congolese coffee beans.

Where Do They Grow Coffee in The Congo?

Kivu is a wide territory with borders between Rwanda, Burundi, and Uganda. The three regions of Kivu include Maniema, Sud-Kivu, and Nord-Kivu, Kahuzi-Biega National Park, a portion of Maiko National Park, and the Ruwenzori Mountains. The three regions are the divisions of the North-Kivu area.

Kivu is notable for not only coffee and palm oil, but cotton, tin, and gold production as well. Green coffee has just gone up to 960 tons – this was due to a dip in the world market but for now, production levels are increasing quickly. Only under 100 coffee washing facilities have grown from just seven around five years ago to cater for the demand.

Coffee companies are situated mostly in the eastern part of the country and have maintained the sector for a long time. The location has good precipitation, high elevations, diversity, and deep and rich and fertile soils that make the place ideal for coffee production.

Coffee is cultivated at an altitude of roughly 4500 to 6500 feet above the average level of the sea, with deep and rich volcanic soils. And as we have already noted, Kivu is the main coffee-growing region in Congo with sufficient rainfall as well as moderate sunlight and other ideal coffee-producing conditions.

Top 5 Congolese Coffee Brands on Amazon

Some of the leading Congolese coffees have been recognized by the majority of coffee specialists. We have put a consumer reference after them, as it is really important to consider other people’s thoughts before making a purchase. We are pretty sure that with the help of our list, you will find a coffee that you like. In order to do that, let’s have a glance at how we assess Amazon’s top five Best Congolese Coffee Brands.

How We Rated Them

We pay attention to the following:

• Price
• Company Background
• Taste
• Shelf-life
• Additives

For more detailed information on how exactly we rate the coffee products we suggest in our guides, click here.

Individual Overviews of Our Top Choices

Congolese coffee beans should be discussed in accordance with the aforementioned parameters. Each customer has his or her own coffee preferences and taste, which is why it is essential to explore the unique features of the online products on Amazon for every coffee lover. It is, therefore, no surprise that we will review and examine each of the items mentioned below.

Congo Kivu Medium Roast

This Congolese coffee company is located near Lake Kivu. In 2008, SOPACDI united with Twin Company to enable this tiny coffee cooperative to become part of the global coffee industry. Today SOPACDI has more than 5,200 farmers, 20% of whom are female. What we are trying to say is that this company is actually trustworthy and its products are known to be reliable and safe.

Now, more about coffee itself. Congo Kivu Medium Roast mostly comes with flavors of milk chocolate. Besides, it has a balanced richness and lasting finish which means that it will definitely leave you satisfied after drinking each sip of the coffee. On top of that, this is quite an affordable coffee option, especially if we consider the high quality it has to offer. For a 12-ounce package, you will have to pay $17.00.

Another good thing about this product is the fact that you can actually use any brewing method with it. My personal favorite is French Press, however, you can definitely go for other ones – That will help you discover the taste that you enjoy the most.

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Organic Congo Pure Origin

The next on our list is freshly-roasted coffee which has a superb flavor, and moderate acidity. Additionally, this locally brewed coffee comes with pleasant citrus overtones that can immediately be discovered in your cup.

All beans are freshly packaged to order and filled with nitrogen for a shelf-life of 14 months.

In terms of the brewing guide, you should keep in mind that you must add 1 tbsp. of cold, crisp ground coffee for the best results. You can use any technique of brewing such as the conventional drip, french press, pour-over, coffee maker, and so on. I can definitely say that the high quality is guaranteed by this Congolese coffee brand as the beans have low calories, no disturbing sweetness, and additionally, are non-GMO, and gluten-free.

I also feel the need to mention that this product is sustainably sourced, all coffees from the growing areas are ethically imported so that the whole production process is sustainable. The price is also pretty cheap – that way, the company makes sure every coffee lover is able to afford to taste this coffee from Congo.

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Fresh Roasted Organic Congo Kivu

Kivu coffee of Congo is a delicate and herbaceous coffee, a light roast with syrup and an orange-like blood zest. Congo Kivu’s taste fills the tongue and is likely to be a delight for every fan of light roast coffee – no matter if you are a beginner or experienced coffee drinker.

Let’s take a look at the company behind this product. So, Virunga coffee constantly seeks to improve coffee quality and quantity in North and South Kivu. This is achieved by concentrating on areas such as good farming practice, investments in infrastructure processing, and finding new ways to produce new goods in a creative attitude. The freshest coffee beans use the latest technology on the planet to create freshly roasted coffee. In a smokeless coffee roasting atmosphere, they have decreased carbon emissions by up to 80%. That means that you are actually consuming an environmentally-friendly product, which is definitely something to be proud of.

Many people enjoy strong coffee, but I like the smoothness more. Each time I took a sip of this drink, I looked at the cup, and asked, “How can this be the smoothest coffee I ever made?” Additionally, the coffee is not harsh and leaves no bitter aftertaste. Therefore, I highly recommend you to buy Congolese Coffee.

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Fresh Roasted Organic Congo Timor

Fresh Roasted Organic Congo Timor is another interesting product that I have come across. The first thing I would like to say about it is that if you roast to a genuine medium like organic coffee from Fair Trade Timor, you will get subtle woody and grassy flavors with a pretty gentle finish.

With this product, you can immediately feel that the producers of this coffee love it and are keen to deliver high-quality coffee for the consumers. You can feel the quality from the first touch to the package which is also able to keep your beans fresh for a pretty decent amount of time. I believe that Fresh Roasted Organic Congo Timor is a perfect choice for people who love deep flavors with a little touch of dark chocolate. You should not expect anything sweet with this one, therefore it also might be a good idea to use additional sweeteners.

The price of this coffee might look a little expensive to some. With a 16-ounce package, you will have to pay $24.95, however, if this seems a lot to you, you can definitely go for other low-budget options that we have also included on our list.

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Congo Hutwe Bukununu Unroasted

And the last one on our list is Congo Hutwe Bukununu Unroasted. This natural coffee is grown and produced in Congo, ensuring to deliver authentic taste describing the true nature of Congo coffee beans. This product might be the best choice for people that are looking for low-budget options. For a 16-ounce package, you will have to pay $4.78, and compared to others, this is the cheapest option that you can find on the market.

Considering the price of this product, you should not be expecting something exceptional. I would say that the taste is satisfactory – It will give you a general idea of how Congo coffee tastes, however, in terms of unique features, this one does not have a lot to offer. All in all, if you are not sure whether your money is worth exploring something new or not, this coffee is the best option as it will cost you very little money and you will probably not regret purchasing it.

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Recommended Machines for Brewing Congolese Coffee Beans

You will discover that before you buy Congolese coffee beans on Amazon, there mostly are several brewing methods discussed. This is due to the fact that you have the ability to produce different tastes with each of them. If you are a genuine coffee enthusiast, you must know that there are many Congo Brew Coffee Machines available for you – The espresso, pour-over, and Moka pot machines are the three machines that create the best Congolese coffee at home. We will discuss them in more depth below.

Pourover

One of the best ways to brew your Congolese coffee at home is Pour Over. The main idea of this method is to slowly pour hot water over a filter. To make things more clear for you, let’s just start by naming all of the essential tools that you will need in order to produce a good-tasting cup of Congo coffee. Simply grab these things:

• Freshly ground coffee
• Coffee filter
• Brewer

If you already have all of these, it means that you are ready to start the brewing process, which looks something like the following:

1. In the beginning, you need to boil the water
2. Then grind your coffee and place the filter in your brewer.
3. Once you have done it, add coffee into the filter and start pouring hot water – just enough to cover the coffee grounds. Let that sit for about 40 seconds.
4. Continue pouring the water in a circular motion and then gently stir the mixture.
5. When all water is drained, you can remove the filter and pour the coffee.
6. Enjoy!

Read our Pourover reviews

Moka Pot

Moka Pot is a simple machine that has been used by coffee lovers for hundreds of years now. Because this coffee maker is not complicated compared to others, some might consider coffee produced by it a little poor in taste, however, this is very far from the reality. If you follow the instructions, I can guarantee that your coffee will taste pretty good. Here is the list of things you are going to need:

• Moka Pot
• Water
• A stove
• Congo coffee

Now, let’s take a look at the brewing process itself:

1. The first step is to start grinding your coffee beans.
2. Then, add water to the bottom part of your Moka Pot machine
3. Insert the filter and then add your coffee to it
4. Carefully connect the two parts of your Moka Pot and put it on the stove. Turn on medium-level heat.
5. At one point, you can see rich-brown steam of coffee – that means that it is time to turn off the heat and remove the pot.
6. Pour the coffee and enjoy.

The best Moka Pot makers

Espresso Machine

If espresso is your favorite type of coffee, then freshly roasted Congolese Coffee is most likely the finest pick. Contrary to common perception, there are numerous ways to enjoy espresso – you might not have to invest in a high-quality manual machine or learn how to pour the ideal shot. However, you will still need to have these things:

• Espresso machine
• Congolese coffee beans

After that, you are ready to start brewing. Some consider it complicated but don’t worry – just follow these steps:

1. Grind your beans
2. Put your freshly grounded coffee into the portafilter that your machine comes with.
3. Turn on your machine
4. Wait for a few seconds. The waiting time might differ depending on which type of machine you use.
5. And that’s all. Your cup is ready and you can now enjoy it!

Espresso Coffee Machines

Frequently Asked Questions on Congolese Coffee