Written by Joy Maguvo, Story Team Leader at Long Miles Burundi
A visit to Burundi with Long Miles Coffee isn’t just about seeing coffee, it’s about connecting deeply with the people, places, and processes that make each cup meaningful. Whether you’re staying for two days or five, your time here will take you on a journey from farm to forest to cup, filled with stories, learning, and inspiration.
Visit to Coffee Farmers and Their Farms
Your journey begins in the hills with the people at the heart of coffee: the farmers. You’ll walk through the coffee fields where cherries are grown, meet the growers and their families, and witness the dedication behind every harvest.
These visits offer a unique window into the daily life of farming families, the challenges they face, the pride they take in their work, and how your visit encourages and impacts them. It’s a moment of connection, from grower to consumer, and from story to reality.
This personal connection helps visitors understand the human side of coffee. Meeting the farmers puts names and faces to the work, showing the care and commitment that goes into every cherry picked.
Immersion at the Washing Stations
After visiting farms, you’ll spend time our three washing stations, Bukeye, Heza, and Ninga. These stations are where coffee cherries are carefully sorted, pulped, fermented, washed, and dried. Each step is intentional and plays a key role in developing the final flavor of the coffee.
Our dedicated teams will guide you through the process, and show you how quality is protected through each stage. You’ll see how important teamwork, timing, and precision are in creating great coffee. Understanding processing deepens your appreciation for quality, hard work, and the community effort behind each lot.
A Hike in Kibira National Park
Coffee doesn’t grow in isolation, it depends on a healthy environment. During your stay, you’ll hike through Kibira National Park, a lush rainforest bordering the coffee hills. This protected forest plays a crucial role in supporting the region’s climate, providing rain, biodiversity, and fertile soil.
The hike is not just scenic, it’s educational and grounding. It connects the dots between environmental conservation and the future of coffee farming. Seeing the forest helps you understand why sustainable agriculture matters. Protecting the land means protecting the future of farmers, families, and the coffee we love.
Cupping the Harvest
Your experience ends at the cupping table, where the journey comes full circle. You’ll taste coffees from different hills, possibly even from the very farms you visited. Through cupping, you’ll learn to identify flavor notes, explore profiles, and understand what makes Burundian coffee stand out.
This is the final and perhaps most powerful part of your visit: sipping the result of all the labor, love, and learning you’ve encountered. Cupping connects everything, from farmer to cup. It’s where visitors become part of the coffee’s story, not just as tasters, but as partners in its journey.
Interested in visiting us at origin? Email us at info@longmilescoffee.com.