Known as the ‘Land of One Thousand Hills,’ Rwanda is a lush, mountainous country with high elevations, rich volcanic soil, a temperate climate, and abundant sunshine – all of which make it an ideal region for growing coffee. In the aftermath of Rwanda’s devastating genocide, these perfect coffee-growing conditions were identified as a means to help rebuild Rwanda’s agricultural sector and played a significant role in aiding the country’s recovery and supporting its people. Today, after more than two decades of investment, education, and hard work, Rwanda is internationally recognised for its unwavering commitment to high-quality coffee. At Market Lane, we have a deep appreciation for Rwandan coffees. Since we opened, we’ve been dedicated to serving these remarkable coffees every year, and together with our sister company, Melbourne Coffee Merchants, we’ve worked tirelessly to grow a market and foster greater appreciation for this country’s incredible coffee. Having just returned from a sourcing trip, we thought it would be a great opportunity to catch up with Aislinn and Abby to hear about their experiences. Aislinn, a crucial member of the Melbourne Coffee Merchants team, has been an integral part of our coffee-buying efforts in Rwanda for several years. Her expertise and dedication have greatly contributed to our success in sourcing exceptional Rwandan coffees. Abby, Market Lane’s talented copywriter and storyteller, has been instrumental in shaping our brand’s voice. In the early days of Market Lane, she coined the beloved phrase, “We love to make coffee for the city that loves to drink it.” Today, Abby’s engaging and thoughtful writing is woven into countless aspects of Market Lane, enriching the way we communicate with our customers and building a market for and appreciation of high-quality specialty coffee.