Congo Muungano From Kickapoo Coffee Roasters

I've had the chance to brew and drink many coffee offerings from Kickapoo Coffee.  This artisan roaster is located in Viroqua Wisconsin and, apart from the great coffee, they distinctively sell their goods in old school metal cans.   Kickapoo has a history of roasting some fine quality coffee from Africa and their Ethiopian beans have won awards in the past.

As of late, they have been offering some beans from the Muungano Cooperative in the Congo.  Muungano is a member of the Joint Marketing Initiative.  JMI pairs up with British-based TWIN to not only bring JMI coffees to the world market, but also helps with development, certifications, and is committed to fair trade.  Munngano is located near Lake Kivu in the eastern Congo.  The coffee they grow are Bourbon varietals of Arabica.

Kickapoo light roasts these Bourbons and opening the sealed can brings forth some really rich cranberry and tart cherry flavors.  The beans are larger than what one sees in Ethiopian Yirgacheffe and are fairly typical for Bourbon.

The coffee brewed from these beans has a fantastic berry taste and is not mellow by any means.  This coffee has a great kick and has a spicy taste working through the cup.  Its full bodied but not overpowering.  It doesn't pack the caffeine punch that a peaberry coffee has but compared to Kickapoo's current Kenyan Peaberry, I think Congo Munngano is better overall.  I wouldn't be surprised to see this offering score an award somewhere.

Brewed in a Vesuviana and French Press.

Also of note; Kickapoo Coffee cans can serve other roles after the have been drained of the coffee.  Plant pots and desktop pen/pencil storage come to mind.  Can collectors who love coffee might also find the deco-esque trade dress to be attractive and decorative.