News

Volcano Eruption in Eastern Congo
Volcano Eruption in Eastern Congo
The Mount Nyiragongo volcano erupted in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) this past weekend. The eruption and lava flow have severely affected the city of Goma and other... Read more...
How Does Collaboration Drive Change and Social Impact in the Coffee Supply Chain?
How Does Collaboration Drive Change and Social Impact in the Coffee Supply Chain?
Coffee is one of the most traded agricultural exports in the entire world. It supports an utterly enormous industry. In 2018, global coffee exports alone were worth $30.9 billion, according... Read more...
Saveur du Kivu - DRC Coffee on the Rise
Saveur du Kivu - DRC Coffee on the Rise
Saveur du Kivu (SduK) is a celebration of the reemergence of coffee in the Democratic Republic of Congo. As the specialty coffee cupping competition and annual meeting for representatives throughout... Read more...
The Congo Comeback
The Congo Comeback
The “Congo Comeback” showcases how an inclusive, collaborative, and equitable market system translates to stronger, more resilient, and diverse value chains. Read more...
The 17 UNG Global Sustainable Development Goals
Sustainability, Part 3: Let's Put People First
A circular economic model is the vehicle required for change within the specialty coffee industry. When we operate along a continuous circle across our supply chain, we can build wealth and expertise... Read more...
Sustainability, Part 1: Inequality Rules the World
Sustainability, Part 1: Inequality Rules the World
Coffee could change the world. But first we need a disruptive innovation to evolve our trading system. This post is the first of four installments diving deep into the issue... Read more...
farmers of Kawa Kanzururu cooperative 2018
Out of Conflict, Into Hope: the Coffee of DRC
For years, since their coffee sector was basically decimated by war, Congolese farmers, including those who are now members of the Kawa Kanzururu cooperative, were forced to smuggle their coffee across... Read more...
Introducing Kawa Kanzururu: the First Coffee of its Kind
Introducing Kawa Kanzururu: the First Coffee of its Kind
Through our exploration of Congolese coffee and relationships developed there over the past few years, we have been introduced to the farmers of Kawa Kanzururu--a young cooperative demonstrating an innovative economic... Read more...
Higher Grounds in the News!
Higher Grounds in the News!
Photo credit: Diana Zeyneb Alhindawi for The New York Times //   We may be just a small group of people doing our best to craft delicious coffee here in northern... Read more...
road from Bukavu to Kiniezire, DRC
Congo Travelogue: Notes from the Road
Author's note: I traveled to the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo in May of this year, to participate in the third annual Saveur du Kivu and visit with Higher Grounds'... Read more...
Congo Coffee at Saveur du Kivu
Saveur du Kivu: Where Crisis Meets Opportunity in the Congo
Collaboration is power. Through Saveur du Kivu and all it represents, the specialty coffee industry in the Democratic Republic of Congo is shifting towards a brighter future. Read more...
Sopacdi washing station welcome, DRC
Eastern Congo: the Last Bastion of Specialty Coffee
I’ve been captured by the allure of one of the last standing bastions of potential for specialty coffee production left in the world. I write this as I travel across... Read more...