Welcome

We take the fine art of coffee growing to new heights of excellence. Our tradition is highly evolved and deeply ingrained in the economy and heritage of Tanzania. Burka is one of the oldest and largest Tanzanian coffee farms. We have adopted an active and profound corporate responsibility, while maintaining the consistent quality that makes Burka Coffee Estates a trusted speciality coffee producer.

Located on the fertile slopes of Mount Meru, just a short drive from majestic Mount Kilimanjaro, the estate produces several hundred tonnes annually of highest quality mild Arabica Coffee.

In Harmony with Nature

Our estates follow a traditional agro-forestry system whereby coffee is shade grown under mostly indigenous trees. We are committed to maintaining the right balance between our productive and non-productive areas. Our staff housing and villages provide secure homes for our workforce and their families, while forests, grasslands and other areas not conductive to coffee cultivation are preserved. Merging ecologically and socially stringent standards, we offer a consistently superior product guaranteed to delight the most discerning coffee buyers and roasters.

Coffee

Our coffee grows at the ideal average altitude of 1’400 m above sea level, on the fertile slopes of Mount Meru. Merging ecologically and socially stringent standards, we offer a consistently superior product, 85% of our crop is comprised of premium quality coffee grades: AA, AB and PB.

Quality control

Due to our elaborate quality control guidelines, 85% of our coffee is deemed export quality. This starts in the fields and continues until after dry milling and grading. Our quality control team visits our wet mills and drying areas on a daily basis to ensure that our processing teams are following the policies we have in place. After reaching the appropriate moisture content on the drying tables, a sample of each daily harvest lot is brought to our cupping kitchen and analyzed by our quality control team. From there, we can begin to ascertain the quality of that particular year’s harvest and which lots meet our buyer’s preferred cup profiles.

Initially we send green coffee samples to a potential buyer for approval. This stock lot sample, once approved, allows us to bulk, bag and mark each bag with its unique lot number, allowing maximum trace-ability. For such samples, the internationally recognized SCAA form is used.

Production factors

The fortunate coincidence of three natural factors – altitude, climate and soil – puts Burka Coffee Estates at an optimal location for the production of a naturally superior coffee. Furthermore latest technology and qualified employees make sure that the coffee quality is consistent and according to the highest standards.

Conservation

Surrounding the Burka springs located on the eastern side of the farm, we have maintained a natural forest since the farm’s inception. The forest, compromising 118 hectares, is home to an abundant species of local birds, bushbuck and other native fauna. Bushbuck are seen regularly wandering in and out of the coffee as they lead a peaceful life on the farm, protected by our security team from any unwanted poachers. Burka further strives to protect the forest by removing exotic tree species and replacing them with native varieties. The small dik dik antelope also has a large presence on the farm, largely residing within the coffee itself. Other animals frequently seen on the farm are jackals and aardvark.

Company

Burka Coffee Estates Ltd. is one of the largest coffee estates in Tanzania. As a large scale coffee operation, Burka employees over 200 permanent employees and 300 specific task employees. During the harvest season, the employment rate reaches 1,000 to 2,000 people depending on the size of our crop. We run and operate two independent wet mills on-site giving us full control of our coffee processing. Our management team consists of our agronomist, quality control manager, financial controller and general manager who work together diligently with our senior staff in order to maximize quantity, quality and efficiency from tree to cup.

History

Burka Coffee Estate was established in 1899 by German settlers of Tanganyika and the first coffee was planted in 1918. At the end of the WWI, the Estate was declared “Enemy Property” and fell under the British Protectorate. In 1929, a group of Swiss investors purchased the farm. The farm expanded in 1990 when Burka purchased the neighboring farm, Selian Coffee Estate. The farm has grown smaller in size since 1990 as the city of Arusha has grown. We currently manage 342 HA of arabica coffee. The name Burka derives from the springs which are located on the farm and provide water for irrigation as well as the surrounding communities.

Community

The Burka community consist of the villages that have been constructed by the company for the welfare of the employees. Each village is a permanent establishment, designed to support the staff and their families by providing free irrigation, gardens, pension lands, onsite schooling and sports facilities, and 24 hours medical services. Further, the villages are equipped with houses of worship to accommodate the large and diverse ethnic and religious mosaic that comprises the Burka workforce.

Burka Coffee Estates Ltd.

Dodoma Road
P.O. Box 90 Arusha, TANZANIA

E-mail: info@burkacoffee.com Phone: +255 754 242 440