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Before arriving in your cup, Tumaini’s journey begins in the South Kivu province of the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The plants grow at high altitudes in mountainous terrain, resulting in the fruity, floral notes for which Congolese coffee is often known.
Though Congo is Africa’s second-largest country in terms of land mass, its coffees are not widely known on the global stage. In blind tastings, Congolese coffee can be mistaken for Kenyan coffee, thanks to the citrus notes, or Colombian, because of the richer, chocolate flavors at the end of every sip.
Tumaini is a tantalizing expression of everything we love about Congolese beans. It’s tropical fruit acidity is complemented by a creamy body and complex, layered sweetness.
THE FACTS
PRODUCER
CULTIVATION
PROCESS
ROAST/CUP
Tumaini, which means “hope” in Swahili, is named after the Tumaini cooperative in Congo that produces the beans. “Hope” is an accurate word, as the cooperative was created in 2016 to support the wives, widows and orphans of poachers who were arrested or killed, or coffee farmers who drowned while trying to cross a lake to sell their coffee.
Tumaini is brought to our shelves thanks to Optimist Coffee Traders, founded by Jim Ngokwey. Optimist helps Congolese coffee farmerssell their crops and introduces the U.S. to vibrant, under-the-radar, coffee regions.
For Jim, who is Congolese-American, coffee has always been a part of his story. His grandfather grew up in Congo under a period of brutal colonization. Then, European missionaries introduced arabica beans to the area, though robusta beans already grew in Congo. Only the Europeans were allowed to plant coffee. In an act of rebellion, Jim’s grandfather planted robusta coffee trees.
Today, Jim’s efforts reflect his grandfather’s spirit. Optimist uses coffee as a bridge to increase equitable trade, communication, and understanding between the two countries.
As with many coffee growing-regions in Africa, coffee farmers in Congo typically only earn enough money to survive, with nothing left to invest. Through Optimist, Tumaini coffee farmers set their own cost so they receive fair prices for their coffee, transforming coffee farming into a thriving path to the middle class.
The cooperative is also developing a circular economy model, where food waste from households and coffee stations is reused on farms as organic fertilizer. It introduced associations of microcredits for the women and younger members, allowing them to create income-generating activities during periods without coffee production. The cooperative also plans to build new schools, health centers, and better access to clean water and electricity.
