Kabum launches new coffee brands

Kabum Coffee International is a Sisters-based company, and appeared on the shelves at Sisters Coffee Company for the first time in 2010. Since then the business has expanded widely in Uganda, and sprouted new roots in Indonesia.

Kabum owes its startup to the people of Sisters Community Church and Vast Church who first entered Kapchorwa, Uganda, 10 years ago with the intent of engaging in humanitarian projects in Africa. Kapchorwa is a community on the slopes of Mt. Elgon on the eastern border between Uganda and Kenya.

Through their first efforts, water projects were developed, Testimony School was established and the Hope Africa Child Sponsorship Program began. After these projects were well established, Kabum was started as a means to reach out to farmers to further develop coffee grown in the region as an economic stimulus.

Mt. Elgon proved to be an ideal spot, with the perfect altitude, latitude, climate and soil that is needed to grow great coffee. Dr. Dan Clay and a team from Michigan State University's International Agriculture Program were commissioned to research the area's potential.

Results proved that exemplary coffee could be grown under these perfect conditions found on the slopes of Mt. Elgon. Their research stated that Mt. Elgon has more capacity for coffee growing than Rwanda and Burundi combined.

Kabum Coffee International was born as a result of these studies, and a system was implemented to train farmers how to produce exemplary coffee. Kabum started as a charitable development project for farmers in Uganda, but has evolved into a sustainable full-fledged business that buys coffee from its farmers and imports it to the States.

Directors of Kabum, Paul Rawlins and Troy Smith, learned in working with approximately 1,000 farmers, individuals as well as farmer groups, that at least 70 percent of the food-products farm force in Uganda are women, yet rarely do the women get to bring their products to market.

Some women beat these odds through sheer determination and hard work. One of those exceptions is one of Kabum's best-managed and producing farmer groups.

This group originated with 23 women who were left to raise their families alone and decided to survive together. Kabum has worked with these women to help build capacity and improve their coffee. Their coffee is sold to world markets through Kabum. Coffee from their farms has taken first place three times in the African Fine Coffee Associations (AFCA) Taste of Harvest Competition for Uganda.

Kabum decided to create a new brand of coffee as a tribute to the hard-working women of Uganda and have called it "23 Women." This new brand of coffee is a unique blend of citrus notes, has a hint of chocolate, and a smooth nutty finish. Kabum will continue to use funds from profits to assist these women in training, equipment and structures that will make their work easier and result in an increase in profit for them as coffee farmers.

"We've discovered that if you help the women you impact the families," said Smith.

This past year, Kabum started a small project on the island of Sumatra in Indonesia. Long-since known for great coffee, there are still many unreached areas full of coffee farmers that seek opportunity, training and access to international markets.

Kabum's new region is just outside the town of Bengkulu on the central section of Sumatra.

Rawlins said, "We have partnered with some local expatriate families that are anxious to add value to their current relationships. They will be teaching Kabum's best practices in coffee growing to those willing to work hard to grow what the world wants."

Kabum tries to focus and connect to a cause in every region they work in. In Uganda, the focus is gender equity, and their cause in Indonesia will be human trafficking. Kabum has partnered with an Oregon-based organization called "Compassion First," who works against the plight of human trafficking in Indonesia.

Kabum launched their new website (www.kabum.org) this past week where you can learn more about the coffee regions they work in, see videos and buy coffee. Their new brand, "23 Women," is available, and also holiday baskets filled with the 23 Women brand coffee, a coffee mug and chocolates, all for the coffee-lover. Their new brand from Indonesia, called "Kabum Suka," (in Indonesian it means "I like it") is also available.

Rawlins and Smith extended their thanks to the owners and management team at Sisters Coffee Company, who selflessly helped to promote and bring an awareness of Kabum to the community.

"Their support and friendship has clearly demonstrated the Sisters hometown camaraderie we have all grown to love," said Rawlins.