The Coffee Quality Institute (CQI) and Neumann Kaffee Gruppe (NKG) have piloted a new Robusta training with a workshop on NKG’s Kaweri Coffee Plantation in Uganda.
NKG says the learnings from this workshop will be incorporated in the new Q Processing 2 Robusta course that will offer opportunities to change the perception of and promote Robusta coffee across the globe. The course is expected to be released by the end of 2022.
“It was great to have this international group of coffee professionals coming together on Kaweri, sharing great enthusiasm and passion for coffee, particularly Robusta, a coffee which has been pushed aside into a corner for far too long. [Through this new program], Robusta coffee now has an enormous opportunity to come to the forefront with a changed perception,” says Etienne Steyn, Managing Director of Kaweri.
To achieve this change, NKG says the commitment from CQI is essential as it contributes significantly to educational developments in the coffee industry. With its coffee quality trainings, the non-profit organisation reaches a wide audience and creates awareness about coffee quality.
“The trainings for Arabica and Robusta are not the same, and that was why it was important for us to trial the new course with the intention to make it widely available to coffee professionals. Given the many challenges that producers face, these post-harvest processing classes are important tools for improving the quality of their coffee,” says Tina Yerkes, CEO of CQI.
NKG says the cooperation with CQI provides an opportunity to build knowledge, experience and expertise that will help improve the quality of Robusta and its appreciation in the market and provide sustainable income opportunities for farmers.
“Processing techniques for Robusta have not been fully explored the way it has been done for Arabica. We believe it is important to pay the same attention to both species when it comes to field practices and post-harvesting processing,” says Gloria Pedroza, NKG Quality Manager.
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