Sourcing coffee in Burundi is as much about relationships and resilience as it is about flavor. When Ben and Kristy Carlson arrived in 2011, they witnessed significant challenges facing smallholder farmers— ranging from inconsistent quality and limited infrastructure to deep-rooted systemic inequalities that hindered long-term success. In response, they founded Long Miles Coffee, building a model centered on meaningful connections between farmers, improved infrastructure, and transparent partnerships with buyers.