Masha Quality Holdings is a family business founded in 2016 by Sylvia Achebet and her husband, Dr Alfred Boyo, in the Kween district of the Sebei ethnic region on the western slopes of Mount Elgon in eastern Uganda. Sylvia and Alfred work in the public health sector, but both grew up in coffee farming families. They started planting their own coffee trees in 2001 and have since expanded their plantation to 20 acres (8 hectares).
This batch of coffee comes from the cherries of 11 farmers in the Sipi Falls region who have been working with Sylvia and Alfred for several years.
After being selectively picked when perfectly ripe, the cherries are transported to the washing and drying station located in the family home in Kamowo village, off the main road in the Kween district.
The cherries are cleaned and sorted to remove defects and selected to make a batch of perfectly ripe red cherries.
They are then left to ferment for a short time in closed containers to develop a rich, fruity flavour. The drying process takes place in a solar dryer, a greenhouse covered with transparent polyethylene to ensure a constant drying temperature and protection from frequent rainfall. The dried cherries are then transported to Mbale for storage.
Masha Coffee promotes sustainable speciaty coffee production through the integration of sound environmental practices and the empowerment of women and youth.
The company won the Uganda Coffee Development Authority's 'Best of the Pearl' award for its Honey Arabica in 2021, and has been a consistent finalist for its washed and natural coffees for the past three years.
