We produce and supply 100% certified coffee from fertile and volcanic areas in East Africa, while working together with our customers to help develop the East African coffee industry.
Our history
Rutasoka was founded in 2017 by Rebu Burubwa, inspired by his roots in Congo. With a vision to support Congolese coffee producers and revive a nearly lost industry with quality coffee with a drive to make a real difference.
Trade not Aid
Coffee has always been an important resource in the Democratic Republic of Congo. During the 1970s, the country was one of Africa's largest coffee exporters, but political instability and civil war from the 1990s onwards led to a dramatic decline in the coffee industry. This had devastating consequences for the families who depended on coffee farming for their livelihood.
From the ongoing crisis, the vision was born; Rebu saw an opportunity. Not for charity, but to create a sustainable path forward – one where coffee producers can regain their professional pride and independence through fair trade.
Coffee as a catalyst
By using coffee as a catalyst for change, Rebu developed a business model; to be able to produce and deliver flavorful coffee from Congo, and now more East Africa, to conscious consumers while helping producers get better pay for their work, which in the long run creates a foundation for economic independence – a step in building a future where trade, not aid, is at the center.
The mission
To offer 100 % certified coffee, and to work together with our customers to be part of the solution to the challenges facing the East African coffee industry.
Since 2017, Rutasoka has grown from importing a few bags of green coffee to several containers annually and distributing over 47,000 coffee plants to 800 producers. With new coffee plants, producers can increase their harvest, raise their incomes and create more jobs in rural areas, which in the long term contributes to a better standard of living in the community where the coffee is grown.
