Long Miles Coffee
Long Miles Coffee was founded in 2011 by Ben and Kristy Carlson, who moved to Burundi with a vision to connect smallholder farmers to the specialty market through transparency and quality. They began by building washing stations in the Kayanza and Muramvya regions, working closely with farmers—many of whom owned fewer than 200 coffee trees—to improve picking, processing, and sustainability practices. Over time, they established a model where traceable microlots could be produced with remarkable consistency, giving farmers higher prices and recognition for their work. Beyond coffee quality, Long Miles has invested in reforestation, soil health, and farmer education, helping transform coffee into a more stable livelihood in a country where political and economic instability make farming precarious. Today, their impact is seen not only in the clean, complex coffees that reach roasters worldwide but also in the stronger, more resilient farming communities they’ve fostered in Burundi.
Gaharo Hill
Gaharo Hill holds deep meaning for Long Miles Coffee Project—it’s where their journey began. In 2013, adding layers of both literal and metaphorical building, Long Miles and local farmers collaboratively constructed the Bukeye washing station using clay bricks handmade from the valley below.
The washing station is situated at the foot of Gaharo Hill, and local farmers—many of whom helped clear the land and build the station—now deliver their cherries there.
