Migoti, Burundi: A conversation with Dan Brose (Podcast #43)

Dan was born in Burundi, then called Ruanda-Urundi, and always had the goal to return … but he didn’t know that would mean partnering on a coffee washing station!

On my visit to BurundiBurundi coffee bears resemblance to neighboring Rwanda, in both cup character, but also the culture surrounding coffee. Burundi is a small landlocked country at the crossroads of East... this year, I sat with Dan Brose of Migoti Coffee. Dan and his partner Poncien built this Migoti station some 6 years ago, and it all didn’t go exactly as planned. With some bumps along the way, the main station in Mutambu district is becoming a hub, with a new location starting in Kimono and another planned for next year. 

But what I really appreciate is Dan’s deep experience in Burundi, and how his background in chemical engineering and other work informs the Migoti approach to coffee. And though I find Dan eloquent and with vast experience, the words you see him repeat over and over are teamwork, partnership and community.

Taking a look at Migoti’s instagram and you will scroll a long time before you find a picture of Dan. The emphasis is on the work, on the group effort, and the goal of building a sustainable business that builds up the local community. With Migoti these are not a heap of buzzwords … they are how they operate.

It’s a real pleasure to speak with Dan at the main station, and you will hear birds, people picking coffee in the background, and later the rush of water as they start the flow through the coffee washing channels. This is not a slick recording in any sense! In fact there are zero edits after the first minute. I encourage you to stay with this conversation because I feel the best stuff comes at the end!  -Tom