Rwanda has some of the best coffee growing conditions in the world. The COOPAC coffee cooperative is located on the steep slopes of northern Rwanda's volcanic mountains, where the rich soil, high altitudes and abundant rainfall give the bourbon coffee trees dotting the slopes above Lake Kivu the best environment to yield the best Arabica beans. COOPAC has been Fair Trade certified and currently COOPAC specialty coffee is distributed in Rwanda, the USA and France. (French Version).

Coffee was long the Rwanda's main export, with 77 out of 146 districts producing coffee beans. But tea now generates more income. Coffee roduction has halved since the genocide of 1994, with only 14,000 tons valued at $15 million exported in 2003 compared to nearly 29,000 tons worth $38 million in 1993.

However, COOPAC membership has doubled every year, starting off with 110 farmers in 2001 to over 2,200 members today. Rwanda's reputation as producer of some of the world's finest coffee was enhanced when COOPAC coffee was judged as one of the best East African arabica coffees in February 2004 in Nairobi by the East African Fine Coffee Association, (EAFCA).