Silverback Coffee of Rwanda

How This Coffee Entrepreneur Beat Incredible Odds to Give Back to War-Torn Rwanda | Eater LA

"Opened about a year ago by Jack Karuletwa—who survived the Rwandan genocide and built the business to help the poorest Rwandan coffee farmers access the global market—this café pairs a trendy Los Angeles coffee-house look (brick arches, glass windows, a visible silver eco-friendly Loring roaster and an aqua-and-white Synchro T2 espresso machine) with a clear social mission. The shop roasts in-house and practices direct trade with a women’s coffee group in Musanze, on the doorstep of Volcanoes National Park, sending farmers pictures and videos of customers enjoying their beans and directing proceeds to causes such as Gorilla Doctors and organizations that build schools and support widows and orphans. The menu features three signature drinks—Jen’s latte (white chocolate), Baby Wyatt (steamed milk with banana syrup, banana slices and whipped cream) and Gorilla’s Eye (drip coffee with a double shot of espresso)—alongside classic espresso and brewed offerings. Roasts are offered as medium, medium-dark and an extra-dark French style (no light roast), and the beans are described as showing citrus notes (lemon, orange) or bourbon-varietal flavors of caramelized cane sugar, cinnamon and chocolate; the owner plans to expand sourcing to neighboring Uganda, Burundi and the DRC while keeping support for Rwanda central to the operation." - Eater