Coffee trees were first planted in Rwanda when it was a Belgian colony during the 19th century. Things looked promising for the coffee-producing industry until the 1900s when a brutal civil war threw the country into turmoil, devastating lives and industries. A century later, after the genocide ended in 2000, Rwanda received an influx of international aid, including large investments in the coffee-producing industry, and in 2004, the first washing station was built. Beautiful Rwanda and its people have been to hell and back, but the terroir and climate continue to make the country a fantastic specialty coffee destination worth caring about.