Who are Nelson Coffee Roasters?

Nelson Coffee Roasters is dedicated to the ethical sourcing and roasting of high-grade, seasonal coffee that brings a sense of joy to the consumer.

With a history spanning more than 14 years, co-founders Lucy and her partner initially discovered their love for specialty coffee during a 2009 honeymoon visit to a unique café in Nelson, British Columbia.

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The captivating flavours of the coffee experienced there marked a pivotal moment, inspiring them to delve deeply into the world of specialty coffee.

In 2014, they inaugurated their own café, Nelson Coffee, in Eastbourne, christened in homage to the town that kindled their coffee enthusiasm.

The café has achieved remarkable success, garnering multiple awards, earning mentions in national publications, and even receiving the endorsement of Ash Barty, the world's number-one female tennis player, as her preferred café on a global scale.

The co-founders' unrelenting quest for coffee excellence culminated in the 2020 decision to begin roasting their own beans. Despite encountering a steep learning trajectory and various challenges, these experiences have only enriched their expertise. Today, they take immense pride in the coffee served at Nelson Coffee, as well as in the beans they supply to home aficionados and other esteemed cafés and restaurants.

Find your local roaster on our UK Roasters Map.

The Origin

The Horizon IS-1 coffee from Nelson Coffee Roasters originates from the Huye Mountain Area of Rwanda.

Nestled in the scenic Kigoma sector, Horizon station lies just 20km from Huye Mountain and close to the charming town of Simbi.

The intriguing story behind Horizon's name began after the 2006 construction, when the original owner was jailed for his involvement in the 1994 genocide.

Production lay dormant until RTC partnered with new owner Fdel, who playfully named it 'Horizon – Supreme Coffee', winning over the initially hostile local community. Today, the station employs 94 locals, with women making up 70% of the workforce.

Horizon is a stunning site in the Southern Province. The picturesque 3-hectare area sits in a valley with steep slopes, surrounded by pineapple plants and avocado trees.

At 1,680 metres, the station neighbours higher farms at around 2,000 metres above sea level.

A total of 1,200 farmers contribute their finest cherry to the station, all from farms within a 2km radius. These farms range in size from an average of 7,000 trees (3ha) to as small as 100 trees.

In 2019, the first year of production since its restart, the station processed 450 tons of cherry. By the end of the 2022 season, total production is estimated to reach 1,000 tons.

All farmers are proud ATP members and receive organic fertiliser from the station, made from recycled cherry pulp, lime, and molasses.

What To Expect

Here’s an idea of what to expect from this Rwandan coffee from Nelson Coffee Roasters.

Team Batch brew method of choice - Cafetiere.

If you loved this coffee and want it to have it in your life again order directly from Nelson Coffee Roasters now.

FAQs

Where to buy Nelson Coffee?

You can purchase all of their fantastic single origin, blends and decaf coffee’s from their online store.

I’m Tom and I have been working in the coffee industry for over 10 years, starting my journey as a barista in Australia, working on coffee farms in South America and roasting coffee in The UK. Today I review and write about speciality coffee. I am the founder of Batch Coffee Club, which showcases the very best coffee from around the world. Read more about Tom Saxon Coffee Expert.