MEET OUR FOUNDER

Jack Karuletwa | Founder & CEO

×

Rwanda’s recent history has been anything but a fairy tale. Decades of persecution and brutal genocide ravaged the country, forcing millions to flee and live as refugees. Our founder, Jack Karuletwa, was one of the fortunate ones. After years of running, he escaped to the US in the mid-90s and built a life and career he could never have imagined. But all the while, Jack’s roots remained firmly planted in his homeland. He knew he had to give back.

Jack’s passion for coffee led him back to Rwanda’s green hills and volcanic soil. Right away, coffee’s ability to bring people together became clear. He saw a resilience and spirit he never imagined possible after what the coffee farmers had been through.

He witnessed a level of craft that resulted in some of the world’s best Bourbon Arabica beans. From that moment on, Jack’s mission became clear: to help these remarkable farmers take their rightful place on the global economic stage.

Through Silverback Coffee of Rwanda, Jack is paying forward the same hope and opportunities he had. His story, and the story of every one of the farmers he partners with, is one of hope, and yes, the magical power of coffee to wake up an entire nation and help its people live happily ever after.

Silverback Coffee is Proudly Black Owned
Proudly black owned.

Your three minute,
pour over took three decades to make.

It’s an intensive, meticulous, sustainable process our Rwandan farmers have perfected over the last 30 years. Silverback coffee cherries are 100% naturally grown, picked by hand, wet washed, and then dried naturally under the sun. By partnering with small, traditional farmers, we’re ensuring that future Rwandan coffee farmers can thrive in the global economy. Which, in turn, ensures you get to appreciate the complex notes of Silverback Coffee for years to come.

see products

These are magic beans.

They won’t grow into a giant beanstalk. Or lead to a goose that lays golden eggs. These beans, grown and harvested by the coffee farmers of the Cyungo Cooperative, are much more powerful than that. They offer hope to a recovering nation. They create purpose. Connect communities. Protect wildlife. These beans conjure different notes. They can be floral. Fruity. Nutty. Chocolatey. They’re prized throughout the world.

And the more of these magic beans we grow, harvest, roast, and sell, the more powerful they become.

Our
coffee

Flavor as rich as our history.
shop now

where have you seen us?