Silverback Uganda
From £14.85 — or subscribe to save 10%
This Ugandan Silverback has a mild and delicate fruit-like sweetness with distinct strawberry notes, and deeper undertones of mellow malt, nutmeg and dark chocolate
The cup
Mild and delicate fruit-like sweetness with distinct strawberry notes, and deeper undertones of mellow malt, nutmeg and dark chocolate.
The Producer
This natural processed coffee comes from smallholder producers in Uganda’s Rwenzori region. Cherries are selectively picked and delivered to the processing station on the day of harvest, where they are separated by flotation and dried on tables for 21–35 days. Once dried, the coffee is transported to Kampala for milling and export. Harvest in this region typically runs from September to December.
The country
Uganda is historically known for Robusta coffee and is the origin of the species. Arabica varieties were introduced in the early 20th century from Malawi and Ethiopia and now make up about 20% of the country’s annual coffee exports. Since sourcing began in 2014, quality has continued to improve. Farms are typically small, under 2.5 hectares, with coffee grown alongside subsistence crops.
The process
Natural coffees in Uganda are first sorted by flotation to remove defective or damaged cherries, then dried on raised beds or tarpaulins until fully dried.
Sourcing: Producer images provided by Café Imports
| Country | |
|---|---|
| Region | Rwenzori |
| Roast | Medium-light roast |
| Cupping score | 86 |
| Altitude | 1900m |
| Flavour | dark chocolate, nutmeg, strawberry jam |
| Process | Natural |
| Variety | SL14, SL28 |
3 reviews for Silverback Uganda
A cupping score is a 100-point metric, established by the Specialtiy Coffee Association (SCA), used by certified Q Graders to evaluate the quality of coffee beans. It measures attributes like aroma, flavour, acidity, body, and balance. The grading is as follows:
Cupping Score | Grade |
|---|---|
90-100 | Speciality – Competition |
85>90 | Speciality – Excellent |
80>85 | Speciality – Very good |
>80 | Commercial/Commodity |
75% of Cupper’s Journey’s coffees are 85+ and any new coffees we stock will all be at least 85.
Read more about it in the Beyond the Bean article:
Once opened and exposed to air, roasted coffee starts to oxidise. The greater the surface area, the quicker this process. This is why we recommend, where possible, that you buy your beans whole and grind to order.
Our coffee comes with the roasted date on pack. We like our coffee to ‘settle’ after roasting for around 2 weeks to ‘de-gas’. The lighter the roast level, the longer the settling period needed. Freshly roasted light coffee is packed with CO₂. Resting allows this gas to escape, reducing acidity and allowing complex flavours (fruitiness, acidity, sweetness) to develop.
We recommend that you consume our beans within 4 months of the roast date following the settling period. That said, coffee beans will easily keep for 12 months if stored correctly.
Coffee should not be stored in the Fridge or Freezer but in an airtight container in a cool dark place. This is because of the increased humidity in the fridge and the condensation that occurs with sharp temperature changes. Coffee absorbs both water and odours so storing it in a fridge will severely impact the flavour and freshness.
To keep your beans (or ground coffee) fresher for longer, store them in an opaque airtight container (remove as much air as possible if you can). Our 250g bags are resealable and have a one-way valve so you can keep your coffee fresh – just expel as much air as possible and zip back up! Then store in a cool dark place like a pantry.
Wherever possible we recommend that you purchase whole bean coffee. Investing in a grinder so that you can grind fresh will have one of the greatest positive effects on the quality of your brew. If that is not an option, then buy smaller bags more frequently in order to maximise freshness.
Our 250g bags have a one-way value that allows CO₂ to escape while keeping the oxygen out and will keep your coffee fresh until opened. This means that you can subscribe to 3x250g bags to get FREE delivery while knowing that the 3rd bag will be as good as the first!
Coffee roast level affects taste: light roasts are bright and floral, medium roasts balanced and sweet, while dark roasts are bold and smoky. We like to allow our speciality African coffees to sing, and to bring out the best of their bright, floral flavours requires a lighter touch. The goal is not to change the bean but to preserve its character. Lighter roasts have bright, crisp, and often complex flavour profiles. These are ideal for pour over brew methods.
Medium roast levels allow the bean’s innate character to mix with the rich, comforting flavours developed during roasting. The sharp acidity you find in lighter profiles mellows out into a smooth, rounded sweetness. The delicate fruit and floral notes evolve into something deeper and more familiar— think toasted nuts, creamy milk chocolate, and rich caramel.
When refining our roast recipe for each individual lot, we cup multiple times until we are happy that we have coaxed the best performance out of the bean. We are strong champions of the pour over method and think that all of our coffees are at their very best when brewed this way.
African Coffee has very complex flavour notes that are affected by the variety of bean, the terroir and the processing techniques. We go into depth about this in the articles below:
Stale coffee typically smells weak, musty, or dull rather than fragrant. When brewed, it tastes flat, cardboard-like, or sour, often lacking acidity. Physically, old beans may appear faded, dry, or have an oil-streaked, rancid surface, while ground coffee feels grainy instead of slightly oily or sticky.
If you use a pour over or French press, you might notice that the ‘bloom’ has gone. The ‘bloom’ is the release of CO₂ gases which occurs when the coffee is fresh. Stale coffee won’t produce this reaction so if you notice a change, it is time for a restock!
Make sure you store your coffees correctly to maintain their freshness for longer.
If you are unsure as to whether you will like the coffee please study the tasting notes as they will give you a clear idea of what to expect. Why not get a Tasting Adventure Pack which allows you to explore samples of three different coffees before you purchase a larger quantity?
Refunds will not be issued for personal taste issues. Please see our refunds and exchanges policy for more details.
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Mr Dyson –
Quick delivery, well packaged and competetively priced.
You can tell hiw fresh the roast is as soon as you open it, well balanced flavours with the hints of the back notes coming through.
Obviously it depends on how fine/course you grind your beans as to what comes through most. (Trustpilot)
Cupper’s Journey –
Hi Mr Dyson. Glad you liked the Uganda the first time I tasted it was early in our coffee journey and I had never tasted such unusual flavours, how do you get strawberry jam flavours from coffee beans? Wow!
What it did do was affirm my belief that Africa coffees need celebrating and finding gems like this has become our passion. Thank you for coming on our journey. Colin.
Lance Tilley –
I ordered 3 bags of the Uganda (2 to give as presents and 1 for me). In the past I have avoided African coffees as I have found them to be a bit cloying. This Ugandan coffee is anything but. Really nice coffee with that Jam undertone which is smooth. Might have to keep the other bags and source another 2 presents!
Cupper’s Journey –
Hi Lance. So so pleased that you enjoyed your Uganda coffee and for the brilliant endorsement. It really is appreciated and responses like yours do help the mojo and give Sarah and I a lift!
If the present dilemma proves too much you could always buy a little subscription or just ask us to send them direct. As the saying goes “happy to help!”
Keep smiling 😊 Colin.
Emily Hornby –
I’ve tried both the Uganda medium roast and the trailblazer and they’re some of the freshest and richest coffee beans I’ve ever tasted! Amazing quality and they make for an incredibly tasty cold-brew! 10’s across the board! Perfectly sweet and smooth. (Trustpilot)
Cupper’s Journey –
Hi Emily. So pleased that you enjoyed them both, take a little time and explore the African journey there really are some beauties to be tasted… my recommendation? Hunt out the Burundi or the Zambia next the latter is a richer flavour similar to your Trailblazer. Enjoy the journey. Colin