About Wamu's Excelsa

What is Excelsa?

Excelsa is one of the lesser-known types of coffee. Most people know Arabica and Robusta, some have heard of Liberica, but Excelsa is different from all of them. It grows on a tall trees that can reach around 15 metres, much higher than the plants of the more common coffee types. The tree is native to Central Africa, where it grows in small areas across countries such as South Sudan, Congo, Uganda, and the Central African Republic.

In some places, it can still be found growing in the wild. In the cup, Excelsa has its own character. Arabica is often soft, sweet, and bright. Robusta is usually stronger, heavier, and more bitter. Excelsa can be fruity, sweet, a little tart, but even sometimes nutty or woody, but never bitter. This makes Excelsa interesting for people who want to discover a different side of coffee: not necessarily better than the others, but definitely different.

Why Excelsa?

Excelsa is a coffee with a story that matters in a changing climate. As climate change makes some coffee-growing areas hotter and drier, the total land suitable for coffee is expected to shrink. Excelsa could help farmers keep earning an income in places where other coffee types may struggle. The tree is strong, tall, and naturally resilient. It can handle heat, dry periods, heavy rain, pests, and diseases better than many other coffee plants, including Arabica and Robusta. That makes it valuable for small farmers who face harvest losses, or who want to grow more than one type of coffee. Its deep roots may also help hold the soil in place, which can protect farms against landslides and floods.

For coffee drinkers, Excelsa brings something different to the cup. It has much less caffeine than Arabica and Robusta, while still offering a rich flavour. It is also known for its natural sweetness, with fruity and rounded notes that make the cup feel smooth and complete. Excelsa is not just another coffee. It is a rare coffee with character, and a promising choice for people who care about taste, farmers, and the future of coffee.

Wamu's commitment

At Wamu, we believe that as much value as possible should stay where the coffee is grown. That is why every step of our coffee process happens in Uganda. Our coffee is not only grown there, but also processed and roasted locally. This helps support the local economy, creates jobs, and gives Uganda more control over its own coffee future. For us, coffee should not be a product that leaves too early, with most of its value created somewhere else.

We also believe that true value is created when it is shared with the people who help create it. That is why Wamu is a steward-owned company. The shares of the company are held by farmers and employees, so the people behind the coffee also have a stake in its success. It is a way to build a coffee company that is not only about great coffee, but also about fair ownership, long-term trust, and shared prosperity.