The National Agricultural Export Development Board (NAEB) has named the top 20 coffees of 2025, urging farmers to maintain high standards as Rwanda seeks to boost its reputation in the global market.
The winners were announced on Aug. 13 in Kigali during the second edition of Rwanda’s annual coffee excellence competition. This year’s event drew 316 entries from across the country.
The competition is designed to reward farmers, processors and exporters, promote Rwandan coffee internationally and help increase its value on the market.
“This is the beginning, but we have not yet reached where we want to go,” NAEB CEO Claude Bizimana told attendees. “We must keep working hard to ensure there are no gaps in how we prepare our coffee, otherwise the progress we’ve made could be reversed.”
K Organics, a first-time entrant, took the top prize. Company representative Ignace Ndayahundwa said the win was a chance to work even harder.
“We take special care of our coffee, including drying it in its husks to preserve its originality,” he said. “We will remain vigilant in cultivation, care and harvesting so we can stay at the top, even internationally.”
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Agriculture and Animal Resources, Dr. Olivier Kamana, said the competition is vital for boosting farmers’ incomes and strengthening Rwanda’s coffee brand abroad.
Japanese Ambassador Isao Fukushima, one of the event’s partners, said his country is proud of Rwanda’s coffee and plans to host a coffee exhibition in Tokyo to promote it further. 
The 20 winning coffees will be sold in an online international auction on Oct. 8, 2025.
