UGANDA DISCO 3

Good coffee should not only taste great today, but also be able to grow tomorrow. That’s exactly what Disco 3 from the West Nile region in northwestern Uganda is all about. Near the border with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, smallholder farmers grow Arabica coffee at around 1,480 meters. The region is one of the hottest in the country and faces major challenges due to climate change.

To give coffee farming a sustainable future, the project focuses on regenerative agriculture. Producers learn to make nutrient-rich compost and natural crop protection products using locally available materials such as rock dust and wood ash. This improves soil fertility and can help coffee plants withstand heat and other climate-related stresses. Instead of seeking short-term fixes, the focus here is on healthy soils and farming practices designed to work even under more challenging conditions.

The social side is just as important. The West Nile region is among Uganda’s economically disadvantaged areas. With the Jukia Micro Station, a larger share of coffee production—and therefore more of the value created—stays in the region. The station is run by a committee elected by producers and creates jobs close to the farms. Farmers receive a price for their coffee cherries that is 55% above Uganda’s Living Income Reference Price.

After harvest, the coffee cherries are carefully sorted at the Jukia Micro Station and then fermented for 72 hours in airtight containers. They are then dried on raised beds and sorted by hand once more.

Disco 3 is pleasantly straightforward, but never boring. On the nose, red apple, vanilla, and herbs evoke a fresh orchard. On the palate come juicy mandarin, the clear sweetness of dextrose, and a touch of cocoa powder. Almonds, caramel, and the slightly tart fruitiness of sea buckthorn linger in the finish. Its medium acidity and pronounced sweetness make it an especially approachable filter coffee.

Disco 3 pairs really good coffee with a project that offers local people more income, a stronger voice, and better prospects. It shows that climate adaptation doesn’t have to wait for some time in the future—it can already be happening on farms today.