2026 Winner: Lavender Coffee Boutique Single-Origin Beans
Bright raspberry. Rich cocoa. Smooth malbec. These are a few of our favorite things (we mean tasting notes) about this single-origin roast from Rwanda that won over our food testers and pickiest coffee aficionados.
Single-Origin Rwanda Abadatezuka Beans, 2026 Best of the Year Award Winner, Courtesy of Lavender Coffee Boutique
Coffee lovers are notoriously loyal to their favorite beans, home-brewing rituals and coffee shop orders. And counting ourselves among this crowd, it's not something any of us would consider changing without thinking hard about it. But every once in a while, it's fun to follow your curiosity and shake things up a little. Rwanda's single-origin Abadatezuka (pronounced "ah-bah-dah-TEH-zoo-kah") is the kind of roast that gives you good reason to do it.
The whole-bean batch from woman-owned Lavender Coffee Boutique is a naturally processed, light-medium roast with a flavor profile that our judges and testers had plenty to say about. And we aren't the only ones who loved it. This year, Rwanda Abadatezuka also earned a 92 rating from Coffee Review, the coffee industry's professional rating organization for almost 30 years. The beans come from the producer-owned Abadatezuka Cooperative near Rwanda's Nyungwe Forest, where they're hand-picked and sun-dried in the cherry before making their way to Lavender for small-batch roasting. And once brewed? One judge's description pretty much says it all: “hot cocoa with a coffee buzz.”
Standout Features: Why It Won
You can clearly taste the tasting notes. Fans picked up fruit, berries, florals and cacao in a cup that tastes decidedly different from your standard morning brew.
A roast for people who like things bright. This is a light-medium, naturally processed coffee with fruity character. Dark-roast devotees, you've been warned.
Even the bag scored points. It's resealable and has a one-way valve tucked discreetly on the back. One packaging judge admitted to having a little “moment of intrigue/wonder” when he could smell the coffee but couldn't figure out where the aroma was coming from.
Follow your coffee back to its origin. The beans come from the producer-owned Abadatezuka Cooperative in Rwanda, connecting your morning ritual directly to the livelihoods of the women who grew and harvested it 8,000 miles away.
Women supporting women. Lavender Coffee Boutique is woman-owned and sources this coffee from a cooperative where women play an important role in production.
“Beautiful packaging, high-quality product, intense aroma and flavor. There are many key selling points that impressed me: beans picked at peak ripeness, naturally processed, grown without synthetic inputs and sourced from a women-led cooperative.” -Best of the Year Judge & Food Category Expert
Rwanda Single-Origin Coffee
View on Lavender Coffee BoutiqueHow We Tested
Best of the Year arranged for Lavender Coffee Boutique to ship the single-origin whole-bean coffee directly to 16 evaluators. Each received a full 12-ounce package in a vacuum-packed, resealable pouch, providing enough coffee for multiple preparation and tasting occasions. Evaluators ground the beans in their own kitchens and prepared the coffee using their usual brewing methods, including drip coffee makers and French presses. Consumer testers assessed aroma, flavor, overall quality and likelihood to recommend, and shared what stood out, what they would change and any problems encountered.
Expert review included two nutrition judges and a chef judge, who assessed the product’s differentiation, sensory experience, quality, value, labeling and marketing claims. Two sustainability judges reviewed its sourcing and environmental claims and supporting materials, while two packaging experts separately assessed the packaging. Best of the Year analysts and the editor also prepared the coffee in their homes and reviewed the entry and submitted materials.
What Experts and Consumer Testers Said
The first thing testers noticed was the enticing aroma of fresh berries, florals and cacao when they opened the package. And once they brewed a pot, the taste did not disappoint. One consumer tester says, “The flavor is fabulous, the fruitiness comes through the mild roast.”
Other testers and expert judges found plenty to talk about too. One said the coffee tasted unlike any she’d had before, eventually describing it as “hot cocoa with a coffee buzz.” Another praised its “intense aroma and flavor,” along with the single-origin sourcing and naturally processed beans.
“The low acidity allowed me to drink the coffee on an empty stomach without getting a stomachache.” -Best of the Year Judge & Food Category Expert
Even when the flavor wasn't as bold or robust as some of our more hardcore coffee drinkers prefer, all of our testers and judges could agree on one positive: knowing where the coffee came from and that buying it supports the producer-owned cooperative behind it definitely resonated. Your morning coffee can travel a long way before it reaches your cup. All of our testers and judges agreed it's nice to know your dollars can make the trip back.
Best of the Year Bottom Line
If your morning coffee has been tasting a little same-old, same-old, award-winning Rwanda Abadatezuka is your chance to shake things up. With notes of raspberry, cocoa and malbec there’s so much going on in this cup. Plus every cup connects you back to the Rwandan cooperative that grew the beans. Go ahead. Give your regular coffee the morning off.
Rwanda Single-Origin Coffee
View on Lavender Coffee BoutiqueWhy Trust Us?
The Best of the Year Media team comprises award-winning editors, analysts, subject-matter experts and consumer specialists who have spent their careers helping people make smarter, more confident decisions. With deep expertise across consumer lifestyle categories, our team brings decades of experience evaluating products, brands and services. Our recommendations are grounded in rigorous evaluation combined with expert judgment and consumer insights, giving readers trusted guidance on products, services, and experiences worth bringing into their lives.
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