For its newest Limited Edition launch, Nespresso presents two Pure Origin Grands Crus born in the contrasting coffee growing communities of Lake Kivu, Rwanda and Chiapas, Mexico. Nespresso pays tribute to these two small but highly knowledgeable and motivated communities – one utilising contemporary post-harvest techniques, and the other using traditional methods passed down through the generations.
Celebrating the dedication to coffee cultivation by the farmers in each origin, the Limited Editions both have names meaning “heart” in their respective native languages: UMUTIMA wa Lake Kivu and TANIM de Chiapas.
A renaissance of coffee growing in Rwanda
Small but highly modernised coffee growing communities can be found on the densely populated and well-cultivated shores of Lake Kivu in south-western Rwanda. In recent years, the country’s coffee growing industry has experienced a renaissance.
Farmers use the latest post-harvest practices to deliver top quality Arabica. Ripe cherries are picked by hand, followed by rigorous post-harvest sorting, also done by hand, to ensure that only the best beans are selected. Today, Rwanda is known for producing some of the sweetest and most flavourful of East African coffees.
Preserving a family tradition in Mexico
Meanwhile, the coffee in Chiapas, Mexico is grown high in the mountains on small, remote farms. Many of Mexico’s finest coffees can be found in Chiapas, a region known for its exceptional coffee with stone-fruit flavours and cocoa notes.
Coffee growers here favour traditional practices, growing food crops such as avocados and oranges in between their coffee plants. For generations, they have grown coffee beneath the shade of the lush, tropical rainforest, which prolongs ripening and yields beans of a consistent high quality with fine aromas.
Introducing new distinct flavours from exceptional origins
“While different practices are used to grow the coffees, both communities share the same devotion to coffee, the same exceptional community spirit and ultimately achieve the same result – the best quality coffees, which are appreciated worldwide,” says Karsten Ranitzsch, Head of Coffee at Nespresso.
“Both UMUTIMA wa Lake Kivu and TANIM de Chiapas are Pure Origin coffees, which means that 100% of the coffee has been sourced from their respective countries. We are able to amplify the intrinsic flavour qualities of these distinct coffees by split roasting the green coffee beans for a perfect in-cup result. Here at Nespresso we wanted to share these results with our Club Members, bringing them new, exciting flavours from around the world,” Ranitzsch added.
UMUTIMA wa Lake Kivu
For UMUTIMA wa Lake Kivu, one half of the green coffee beans undergoes a lighter roasting to highlight its juicy fruit notes, while the other half gets a darker roast for delightful strength and texture. The result is a bright, complex coffee, a refreshing union of fluid texture with juicy fruit notes, enhanced by a delicate aftertaste. On the Nespresso intensity scale of 1 to 13, UMUTIMA wa Lake Kivu has an intensity of 6, and is best enjoyed as an Espresso or Lungo.
TANIM de Chiapas
To refine the beans from Chiapas, Nespresso experts apply a similar split roasting technique. In this instance, one part of the green coffee is roasted at a low temperature for a long time to protect the specific nutty and bready notes.
The second part has a shorter, darker roasting to develop a silky smooth texture. TANIM de Chiapas unites the sweet harmony of a silky-smooth texture and bready aromas with delicious nutty notes. With an intensity of 7, TANIM de Chiapas is best enjoyed as a Ristretto or Espresso.
Both UMUTIMA wa Lake Kivu and TANIM de Chiapas also work in perfect harmony with milk. Nespresso experts recommend that they can be enjoyed as a Cappuccino, a Latte Macchiato or simply with a dash of milk.
The 2016 Pure Origin Limited Editions will be available from Nespresso boutiques worldwide, online and through the Nespresso Customer Care Centres starting 25 January 2016, for a limited time.
