Intango washing station

The Intango washing station, located near the village of Kibaya in Rwanda’s Western Province, serves as a central processing hub for hundreds of smallholder coffee farmers. In Kinyarwanda, the name 'Intango' translates to 'beginning' or 'a communal sharing space,' reflecting the station's mission to foster collaboration and economic opportunity among local growers. The station is situated along the eastern bank of Lake Kivu, a region renowned for its ideal coffee-growing conditions, where farmers typically cultivate small plots of land with fewer than 200 trees each.

The station is owned and operated by Gilbert Gatali, a prominent figure in the Rwandan specialty coffee sector with over 13 years of industry experience. Before establishing Intango, Gatali held significant roles, including serving as the Managing Director of KZ Noir Ltd and working as the East Africa Manager for Sustainable Harvest. His background as a pioneer in farmer-owned export companies informs his approach at Intango, where he prioritizes direct impact and quality improvement for the approximately 500 to 835 smallholder farmers who deliver their cherry to the site.

Historically, the site was part of a cooperative that achieved success in the 2014 Rwanda Cup of Excellence, but it fell into disrepair after the cooperative dissolved. Gatali, alongside his partner Gervais, took over the facility in 2017 to revitalize it. Their vision was to create a space that not only processes coffee but also provides the infrastructure necessary for farmers to achieve higher quality standards, which in turn allows for better pricing and financial stability for the community.

While the Rwandan coffee industry is traditionally dominated by the washed process, Intango has distinguished itself through experimentation with honey and natural processing methods. These techniques are relatively uncommon in the region and allow the station to produce unique flavor profiles that stand out in the specialty market. By managing the processing of these diverse lots, the station helps farmers move beyond basic commodity production into the high-value specialty sector.

Operationally, Intango functions as a vital link in the supply chain, gathering data from unassociated farmers to facilitate digital reimbursements and second payments. This transparency ensures that the financial benefits of high-quality production reach the farmers directly. The station acts as a gathering point where staff and community members collaborate, emphasizing the 'communal sharing' aspect of its name and ensuring that the benefits of specialty coffee are shared across the local population.

Today, Intango is recognized for its commitment to innovation and its role in elevating the quality of Rwandan coffee. By providing the necessary infrastructure for processing and maintaining a focus on community development, the station has become a key partner for international roasters seeking high-quality, traceable lots. Its story represents the broader evolution of the Rwandan coffee sector, which has shifted from a focus on volume to a sophisticated, quality-driven model that empowers individual smallholders.