When I was invited to attend an international health conference for African ministers in Kigali, Rwanda in December, I was excited not just for the discussions ranging from preventative healthcare to AI and digital health but also for discovering another coffee country for the first time. Naturally, I ensured that my bookings allowed me to spend at least one full day after the event to check the sites, erm! By this I meant coffee shops. Prior to boarding the plane, I checked things to do in Kigali and was pleasantly surprised to learn that visiting Question Coffee was under the top 10. So, as soon as the conference finished on Thursday evening, I planned my Friday accordingly with the hotel, where I was able to lease a nice SUV for 3 hours for about $15 to visit at least two coffee shops.
Question Coffee
This is probably Rwanda’s most famous coffee shop with two branches in Kigali. It is billed as a social enterprise, supporting women coffee growers and receiving support both from Mastercard Foundation and Bloomberg Philanthropies. It trains people in the coffee business, sources and roasts its own coffee too.
As my hotel was located in the more upmarket part of Kigali, known as Kiyovu, I headed to their newer branch in the neighbourhood, located at House number 31, KN 41 Street. In summary it is a converted house, which hosts a little enclave on the left as you enter, where their coffees are on sale, together with brewing gadgets.
Also on the wall, is a guide to their coffees based on growing region in Rwanda, cooperative processing method and brewing guide with flavour notes, so think dark chocolate, citrus, sweet, fully washed, ideal for aeropress and Hario V6o, which equals Mayogi, which is what I bought for my friend and I.
After leaving the enclave area, you can enter the main brewing area, decked with filter brewing equipment and a two group La Marzocco Linea espresso machine.
I was attended to by who brewed my cortado. After which I went onto the balcony and sat down to drink my coffee like an escapist.
In having a brief chat with the barista, who was very helpful, I learnt that Question Coffee have a much larger branch where you can witness their roasting operation and much more.
Kivu Noir
Located at 2 KG 668 Street, I‘m guessing this is also located in a nice area, although a little further away from Question Coffee, as I noticed impressive looking apartments amidst the construction of a few more. The driver also informed me that this area hosts some of the nice restaurants too. Entering this place, you could tell that the budget for the décor was generous. Located on a hill side – after all Rwanda is also known as the land of 1000 hills – this place was obviously popular with a few expats, with people on their laptops chatting with their friends or colleagues and artsy people too. As you enter, you are greeted with comfy chairs and some African art and books dotted around.
For coffee heads, you are greeted with a black Victoria Arduino Black Eagle espresso machine twinned with grinders too, with busy barista trying to get orders correct.
I liked their unusual cups and their attention to detail in pouring latte art.
I walked out to take in the view and waited for my double espresso as I had already had a milk-based coffee.
Also on offer at Kivu Noir is food and cakes and temptation got the hold of me, as I ordered what looked like the largest slice of lemon cake I’ve seen in a café to take away. Upon leaving I chatted with the head barista, Jummah, who had previously been working in the UAE, so we exchanged notes and he said that both Kivu Noir and Question Coffee were the best cafes in Kigali.
So, if you happen to visit Kigali, I recommend these two coffee shops to satisfy your specialty coffee thirst.
