Welcome back to the Cupping Table podcast! In this episode, host David Paparelli sits down with Richard Hide, founder of Africa Coffee Connect and co-founder of The Best of Congo Cooperatives. With over two decades of on-the-ground experience in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Richard shares the gripping story behind a 20-year "overnight success story" in specialty coffee. From overcoming extreme logistical hurdles to empowering 26 smallholder cooperatives, this episode uncovers how high-altitude Lake Kivu Arabica went from being completely smuggled and forgotten to taking center stage in global competitions.Key Takeaways From This Episode:- The Forgotten Origin: How world-class Arabica growing at 2,000 meters lost its identity for decades after being smuggled across borders.- Extreme Export Logistics: The harrowing journey of transporting coffee across Lake Kivu, securing clean containers in landlocked Eastern Congo, and shipping 2,000 km to the nearest port.- The Power of Community Cooperatives: Why 26 cooperatives—representing thousands of smallholder farmers—are driving economic resilience, community infrastructure, and women's leadership.- Auction Highlights & Innovation:A look inside The Best of Congo Cooperatives auction lots, featuring Congo's very first anaerobic lots, natural processing, and top-scoring women-led coffees.- A Groundbreaking Global Jury: How this competition calibrated blind-cupping panels simultaneously across London, New York, Seoul, and Goma.Don't miss out on The Best of Congo Cooperatives Auction, taking place September 1–3, 2026! Head over to register and order your sample sets.