Gishamwana Island
Roasted by Elusive Coffee in Athelstone, SA
Tasting notes
Cooked Currant – Mild Chocolate – Caramel
In the roaster's own words.
- Origin
- Rwanda · Lake Kivu, Gishamwana IslandCOOPAC / Emmanuel Rwakagara
- Roast
- Medium light · For filter
- Process
- Washed
- Caffeine
- Regular
- Varietals
- Bourbon
- Altitude
- 1500-1650 masl
- Certifications
- Organic
What Elusive Coffee say
From the Heart of Lake Kivu This is no ordinary origin. Gishamwana Island is a secluded coffee paradise nestled within Lake Kivu, Rwanda. Home to 35,000 organically grown Bourbon coffee trees, this private island is owned and managed by COOPAC founder Emmanuel Rwakagara. Isolated from pests and enriched by biodiversity, the island provides ideal conditions for producing clean, complex coffees.
This fully washed microlot features a unique double-fermentation and soaking process that enhances clarity and vibrancy in the cup. Expect juicy cooked currant, smooth chocolate undertones, and mellow caramel sweetness-all wrapped in a clean, fruit-driven finish.
Why We Chose It: We source coffees that tell a story-and this one speaks volumes. From its island terroir to the community-focused work of COOPAC, Gishamwana captures Rwanda’s spirit of resilience and quality.
An island-grown Rwandan, grown on Gishamwana Island in the middle of Lake Kivu and washed for clarity and cleanness. We lead with its tangy, lively acidity - cooked currant and dried stone fruit over a base of mild chocolate and caramel - for a cup that's bright and refreshing without ever turning sharp. Light-bodied and clean, it's at its best as a filter, where that juicy acidity and gentle sweetness have room to shine. A characterful, slightly unusual single origin with a genuinely special story behind it - coffee grown on a lake island.
Quoted from their product page.





