Small but mighty: “Petit Kwilu”, the new specialty coffee from the Democratic Republic of the Congo
You may already be familiar with the mouth-watering Arabica coffees from the Kivu region in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Less known are the country’s Robusta coffees, which have remained lower grade, less popular options – until now. “Petit Kwilu,” a distinctive Robusta coffee, is defying stereotypes and redefining the country’s potential in both the export market and local coffee consumption.
Behind this ambitious project is the Congolaise de Commerce et d’Investissement (COCOI), a family-run business with deep roots in the country’s food industry, now committed to elevating the quality and reputation of Congolese coffee. Willy Kanyinda, in charge of sales and business development at COCOI, shares the story of this small but mighty coffee bean.
Starting with a biscuit factory decades ago in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the small local enterprise COCOI expanded into a network of restaurants and later found unexpected success in the tobacco industry. But their entrepreneurial spirit didn’t stop there. Seeking to diversify their ventures, COCOI saw an opportunity in an unlikely place: the coffee sector.
“We didn’t want to put all our eggs in one basket,” explains Willy Kanyinda. “The turning point came when the National Coffee Office (ONAPAC) invited businesses to invest in revitalizing the country’s coffee sector. COCOI stepped up, investing in a coffee processing plant with hopes of breathing new life into DRC’s rich coffee heritage.”
Their first foray into the coffee industry in the eastern part of the country proved challenging. Exporting from the DRC is prohibitively expensive, costing around $6,000 per 20-foot container, compared to just $400 when smuggled through Rwanda. These costs made their initial venture in Kivu unsustainable.
Undeterred, COCOI shifted its focus to DRC’s western regions, recognizing the country’s glorious coffee history. With ONAPAC’s collaboration, they transitioned from Arabica to Robusta, tapping into the “Petit Kwilu” variety.
Petit Kwilu originates from the Mayombe region in the Bas-Fleuve district of Kongo Central Province, which is known for its rich biodiversity and deep agricultural heritage. Despite its high quality and drought resistance, the exceptional Robusta variety remained in the shadows for a long time, unknown beyond Congolese borders.
With global interest in specialty coffee growing, Petit Kwilu started to gain recognition among international coffee enthusiasts for its distinctive qualities.
COCOI joined this wave, restoring a processing plant in Bukavu and reviving a roasting plant in Kinshasa. But there was one problem: not enough coffee to roast. ONAPAC suggested they expand into Kongo Central, where efforts were underway to increase coffee yield per hectare. COCOI’s strategy was simple but effective: Add value.
Unlike traditional buyers who offered low pre-financing rates to farmers, COCOI paid higher prices to incentivize quality. While the government set the price of coffee cherries at 400 Congolese francs per kilo, COCOI started buying at 500 francs, eventually raising it to 700 francs. This significantly boosted farmers’ incomes and motivated them to focus on producing higher-quality coffee.
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COCOI’s commitment to premium quality coffee has been bolstered by partnerships with ONAPAC and the International Trade Centre (ITC). When COCOI ventured into Congo Central to develop the “Petit Kwilu” variety, these partners provided critical support.
“Initially, we had coffee that wasn’t exportable,” says Willy. “But with ITC’s training programmes and the support from ONAPAC, Cocoi learned best practices in harvesting, post-harvest processing, and drying.”
“Our first year was a learning experience,” he recalls. “But persistence paid off. The success of last year’s coffee and its international acclaim has encouraged COCOI to continue refining their methods. The company is now in discussions with major commodity traders ETG and Touton for a 160-tonne order of Petit Kwilu coffee.”
COCOI has already exported 30 tonnes of coffee as part of an experimental batch and sold 10 tonnes locally of the same premium quality. This happened to be the first container to be exported from the region in more than two decades.
“We’re trying to foster local appreciation for high-quality coffee,” says Willy. “Despite being a coffee-producing country, the DRC doesn’t fully appreciate its own coffee. Imported products often dominate the local market due to its lower price, but COCOI is working to change that through awareness campaigns and local supply initiatives.”
To support this growth, COCOI is investing $250,000 to improve logistics. “Many villages in the DRC are inaccessible, making transportation a significant challenge. To handle larger quantities efficiently, COCOI is establishing three collection and processing points instead of relying on a single hub.”
Previously, 40% of their budget was spent on logistics. Now, with investments in drying units and trained field officers through ITC support, COCOI aims to ensure coffee is processed promptly and efficiently.
COCOI’s efforts are not just transforming the coffee sector – they’re having a profound impact on farming communities. Through the ITC project, COCOI identified 60 villages with 650 farming households, distributing 2.7 million coffee plants across these villages – and as its success became evident, 20 more villages joined, expanding the network to over 80 villages and 800 producers.
Importantly, the project has had a strong gender focus. Over one hundred women are directly involved as producers, with five female agronomists trained to support the farmers. “Women play a larger role in coffee cultivation than men,” notes Regine Tika, ITC programme coordinator. “They are deeply involved in every stage of the process.”
COCOI has connected with 3,800 farmers in 2024 and is currently working on densifying 650 hectares of coffee farms – expanding to 1,800 hectares with the producers. This season marks the first harvest from the coffee planted three years ago.
Looking ahead, COCOI has ambitious goals. The company aims to export 2,000 tonnes of green coffee within the next five years. Their partnership with Touton, a multinational company known for its rigourous standards, has been instrumental in this growth.
Petit Kwilu is more than just coffee – it’s a symbol of resilience and quality. Named for its small beans, Petit Kwilu is a Robusta that is gaining international recognition. French experts conducting blind cupping sessions consistently identified it as distinctive and exceptional.
As Arabica prices rise and interest in Robusta grows, Petit Kwilu is well-positioned to capitalize on this trend. COCOI is also exploring local value chains, sourcing packaging materials from Uganda and neighbouring countries, promoting better regional integration.
“We see opportunities to create packaging in-country, and this way build local value chains,” says Willy. “With many small entrepreneurs emerging, establishing a packaging company in the DRC would be a fantastic opportunity. We believe in the potential of Congolese coffee and are dedicated to seeing it flourish both locally and internationally.”
Petit Kwilu serves as a beacon of hope for the DRC’s coffee sector – proving that with the right investments, partnerships, and commitment to quality, even Robusta coffee can shine on the global stage.
COCOI has partnered with the International Trade Centre (ITC) under the EU-ACP Business-Friendly programme, which is developing the Petit Kwilu variety and its commercialization in collaboration with ONAPAC. The programme activities in the DRC enhance cultivation techniques, training farmers, and establishing sustainable supply chains. These efforts have not only improved coffee quality but have also empowered local communities by creating new economic opportunities.
