Roaster's Choice

New Coffee for October, Sopade, Democratic Republic Of The Congo

Would you like to explore the world of speciality coffee? Each month Claire Wallace (3rd place winner of the World Barista Championships) sources one new coffee for you to try and hand roasts it to bring out the finest flavours.

In recent months, we've tasted coffees from Honduras, Nicaragua, Uganda, Kenya and Guatemala. Where's next...?

ROASTER’S CHOICE

OCTOBER 2026

SOPADE,

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO

• Origin: Democratic Republic of the Congo

• Region: South Kivu

• Varietal: Red Bourbon

• Process: Washed

Grown at around 1,500 metres on the slopes above the western shore of Lake Kivu, this organically certified Bourbon coffee comes from the 818 members of the SOPADE cooperative.

SOPADE was founded in 2017 by a group of smallholder farmers seeking fairer representation and greater control over their coffee. What began as a non-profit association became a recognised agricultural cooperative in 2020. Today, its membership includes 207 women.

Producing coffee in South Kivu comes with significant challenges. Ongoing conflict, limited infrastructure and difficult access to international markets can make it hard for producers to bring their coffee to a wider audience. By working collectively, SOPADE’s members have invested in their own washing station, sustainably built warehouse and transport to move coffee from remote growing areas.

At the cooperative’s Dutu washing station, the coffee undergoes 12 hours of dry fermentation, followed by 12 hours of underwater fermentation and a final 12-hour soak. This carefully managed process creates a flavourful tea like cup with notes of cranberry, blackberry and earl grey.

We recommend pairing with:

Cranberry Shortbread

How do I brew this coffee? Explore our brew guides to find the right method for you.

CONTAINS:

• 200g of coffee, hand-selected and roasted by Claire

• An information card about the coffee

Best brewing methods:

✔ Espresso machine: highlights sweetness and body

✔ Cafetiere: for a full, rich cup