Maple Syrup, Cranberry
A fully washed Bourbon from South Kivu's Sopade smallholders, this coffee carries more body and sweetness than the process might suggest - maple syrup richness, a clean cranberry lift, and a depth that keeps drawing you back. It came through the inaugural Best of Congo auction, a platform built to bring exceptional Congolese lots to a wider market, and it makes a quietly compelling case for itself.
Sweet, cranberry-bright and seriously weighty
From South Kivu's smallholders, grown at altitude between 1,500 and 2,000 metres, this Bourbon lot went through a two-stage fermentation before being fully washed - twelve hours out of water, then twenty-four hours submerged - before drying. It's a process that coaxes something unexpected from a washed coffee: a body that feels weighty and coating, with a sweetness closer to maple syrup and a bright cranberry edge that keeps things lively.
This coffee came to market through the inaugural Best of Congo auction, a platform set up to give Congolese producers a direct route to international buyers. Assembly were among the roasters who took notice.
The result in the cup rewards a slower pace - rich enough to hold your attention, bright enough to stay fresh across a second or third cup. It works well as a pour over or through a French press, and it earns its place on a quiet morning or a long afternoon.
About the Roaster
Assembly Coffee started in Brixton in 2015, built around a simple conviction: that a roastery should source what its customers actually need, not what looks good on a shelf. Now a B-Corp certified team of thirty, they work with producers, scientists and hospitality partners across the world - bringing carefully chosen coffees to independent cafes, restaurants and home brewers from London to Manila.
