LONG MILES COFFEE PROJECT
This is one we’ve really been looking forward to - a honey processed coffee from Long Miles that delivers both depth and clarity. It carries warmth and sweetness, yet stays precise and balanced all the way through. Blackberry, caramel and brown sugar build the foundation, while a bright orange-like acidity keeps the cup lively and structured. The honey process adds roundness and natural sweetness, without ever taking over. Generous, expressive and beautifully put together.
We have been buying coffee from Long Miles for 12 years now, but the last time we released a coffee from Ninga Hill was in 2022. Being back with not just one, but two coffees from this hill in our Farmers series is something we’ve genuinely been looking forward to.
Coffee facts
Producer: Long Miles Coffee Project
Origin: Kayanza, Burundi
Washing station: Ninga Washing Station
Altitude: 1800 m.a.s.l.
Variety: Red Bourbon
Process: Honey
Flavours: Blackberry, caramel, brown sugar and bright orange-like acidity
LONG MILES COFFEE PROJECT
Long Miles Coffee Project is one of our longest and most meaningful relationships. A collaboration built on trust, persistence and a shared belief that coffee can - and must - be done better.
Ben and Kristy Carlson moved to Burundi in 2011 after seeing both injustice and poor farming practices shaping the country’s newly privatised coffee industry. At the same time, they recognised something else: coffees with enormous potential that were rarely paid for at their true value. When they also saw how difficult it was for roasters around the world to access consistently great coffees from Burundi, Long Miles Coffee Project was born.
Today, Long Miles works directly with over 14,000 smallholder coffee-farming families on traceable hills in Burundi, Uganda and Kenya. In Burundi, they operate three washing stations - Bukeye, Heza and Ninga - processing coffee from around a dozen distinct hills, each with its own expression and identity.
Ninga Washing Station sits high above the Nkokoma River. It was built after Long Miles realised that farmers from Ninga Hill were travelling long distances to reach washing stations with fair scales and fair payment. By bringing processing closer to the farms, the time between picking and processing is shortened - improving cup quality while making daily life more sustainable for producers.
Coffee production at Long Miles follows two paths: owning and operating washing stations and model farms, and building long-term partnerships with cooperatives and independent producers. Across both models, the commitment is year-round - through Coffee Scouts, Farmer Field Schools, Coffee Kids Camp and other community initiatives.
Coffee is never just coffee here. It is relationship, responsibility and long-term thinking. For us, Long Miles is a clear example of how better coffee becomes reality - from plant to cup.
Exceptional coffee starts at the origin. The Farmers series is a tribute to the skilled and dedicated producers which we have a close relationship with. For this series, we purchase limited quantities of specific lots that really stand out when we taste them. It could be the variety or a specific part of the farm that truly brings out the best in the coffee. The flavours of these coffees are often sweet and floral, with hints of fruit or berries, broadening the horizons on what coffee can taste like. It is with a lot of pride we highlight our producers and their incredible craftsmanship through the coffees in the Farmers series.
We have four different coffee series. From House where the flavors are more family, to Prime that offers the absolute top of special coffee quality.
House is the foundation we stand on and here we offer specialty coffee From some of the 15 producers we work closely. Everyone is among the best in the world. Each coffee in the series has its unique mix and taste profile. Thanks to the width of the series, we dare say that there is a taste for (almost) everyone. We vary origin and recipes to follow the harvest periods that vary during the year between different parts of the world. This way we make sure that the coffee is always fresh, the flavors the same and your cup really good. In this series you will find several different espresso and brew coffee. Whole beans and ground.
Flavours Is all about lifting the natural flavors in every coffee. The contents of the bag change in line with the harvest periods that vary during the year in different parts of the world. Most coffee is single Origin, but sometimes we can feel that a mixture is what is best in line with the coffee's taste profile. Flavours is perfect for those who are looking for an exceptional cup. A cup that really accentuates the unique taste and character of the coffee.
Farmers is a tribute to the skilled and dedicated producers. With most people we have long and close relationships. We buy limited quantities of specific tickets that distinguished themselves in our tastings. It may be the variety, or a specific part of the farm that really got the best in the coffee. The flavors of these coffee are often sweet and floral with hints of fruit or berries. They broaden the views about how coffee can taste. It is with pride that we highlight our producers and their fantastic crafts.
In the series Prime we offer the spearhead of specialty coffee. The quality and taste is unbeatable and it is often an experience in itself to drink one of these coffee. We release them only 3-4 times a year, making the coffee in the series extremely rare and very sought after. We only have around 200 bags at a time! These coffee is often of an exclusive variety, produced by modern and innovative methods. For those looking for the ultimate coffee experience, we dare to guarantee that the Prime series will satisfy even the most sophisticated taste preferences.
We specialize in specialty coffee, which means that all the coffee we purchase scores at least 80 points on a 100-point scale – a grading system established by the international coffee organization SCA.
We hold high standards for the producers we work with, both in terms of sustainability and quality. Both aspects demand more and come at a cost, which we gladly pay. The right price is worth every cent!
10 years or more – that's how long we have been working with several of our producers. Simply because they are the best, and we know and trust each other. When we begin new collaborations, which also happens from time to time, we do so with the intention of celebrating 10 years and beyond with them as well. Our close and longstanding relationships are built on a shared philosophy and a desire to improve the conditions for coffee farmers worldwide. Through sustainability and quality!
