Chap 1. PNG Blue Mountain

Geography

Papua New Guinea, an exotic paradise in the southwestern Pacific, boasts diverse geography and climate. This lush island nation features tropical and mountainous regions, with highlands that enjoy perfect conditions for growing exceptional coffee. This region benefits from high altitude, unspoiled tropical forests, volcanic-rich soil, and a tradition of smallholder farming that prioritizes sustainability.

Around 80% of Papua New Guinea’s population live in rural areas with limited access to modern facilities, technology or formal job opportunities.  The result is a nation of smallholder farmers, relying on the land and their own expertise to make a living. For the consumer, this means we are able to pinpoint, with spectacular accuracy and traceability, where our coffee is grown.

Here, the coffee farms are not merely agricultural sites; they are extensions of the tropical forests themselves, working in perfect harmony with the existing environment.  From a distance, these farms appear as unbroken stretches of forest, blending seamlessly with the natural landscape. It is only on closer inspection that coffee trees become visible, nestled in the shade of the larger, native trees which are left undisturbed.

Terroir and Taste

Much like it does for fine wine, the unique combination of soil quality, topography, and climate - called terroir - plays a crucial role in producing specialty-grade coffee. Volcanic deposits in the soil of PNG’s coffee growing region create a rich, fertile foundation for the coffee plants. The light, loamy soil provides excellent drainage, while the nutrient-rich soil give the coffee a distinctive, smooth, buttery flavor packed with goodness.

Famous as a destination for conservationists and bird enthusiasts, PNG boasts a startlingly large population of rare and exotic birds. The country is home to +780 bird species, including the captivating Bird of Paradise. These birds thrive in the dense forest and lands untouched by industry, pollution and human intervention. To us, thriving wildlife and the pristine, well-preserved habitats indicate that PNG farmers have developed a truly sustainable way of growing coffee.

100% Single-Origin

Our single-origin beans are directly sourced from Marawaka, a small and remote village nestled on a plateau in the highly mountainous Eastern Highlands. Situated at an altitude of 1,800 to 2,200 meters, this elevation allows the coffee beans to mature slowly, absorbing the soil's distinctive characteristics and developing complex, irresistibly sweet flavor profiles highly prized by coffee connoisseurs.

Traditional Farming Techniques

Modern farming techniques, including the use of pesticides and fertilizers, are largely unfeasible here. Coffee grown naturally using traditional methods is more labor intensive, (this in itself provides enhanced employment opportunities within the local area,) but the result is a much higher-quality coffee. Yields are likely to be smaller, though it is much more likely to achieve specialty grade which can be sold for a premium price: a price that we are very happy to pay.

Blue Mountain Typica Variety

Beyond selecting the country, region, and village from which our coffee originates, we place great importance on the coffee variety. We have meticulously chosen the Blue Mountain variety, a sub-variety of Typica, which thrives in Papua New Guinea’s mountainous regions. Originally introduced from Jamaica, Blue Mountain coffee was cultivated to flourish in steep terrain. This variety of Arabica coffee is renowned for its ‘silky smooth and ‘full bodied’ characteristics.

Typica, one of the oldest and most genetically pure strains of Arabica, is known for its excellent cup quality and complex flavor profiles. Its adaptability to high altitudes allows the coffee to develop intricate flavors, ensuring that every cup of our Blue Mountain coffee delivers exceptional taste and a unique connection to its origin.

Direct-sourced

Since the coffee farms in Marawaka are tiny, family-owned smallholdings, each harvest must go the nearest cooperative for processing.  This is a shared facility where coffee is prepared for sale. The process may involve sorting, pulping, washing, and
drying as well as several quality control checks along the way. 

We have built a direct relationship with the local mill/processing facility which is co-invested by a Korean entrepreneur, who is our long-time family friend. We work closely with them to ensure that the farmers in Marawaka will receive a fair price for the love and care they have shown our coffee beans. In return, they provide us with truly exceptional coffee.

Biodiversity and Sustainability

Shade-grown farming integrates coffee trees into existing forests, a sustainable practice that benefits both the forest and the coffee, yet only done by 25% of the world’s coffee production. In fact, coffee is a shade-loving plant that grows naturally under the canopy of larger trees. But, commercial 'sun-grown' cultivation often strips coffee plants of this protective ecosystem.

In Mawaka, coffee farming has always taken place under shade of the long-established forest. The ancient, native trees provide homes for wildlife which would not be present in a mono-culture coffee farm, protecting the biodiversity and the ancient character of the area.

The overhead canopy of native trees shelters the burgeoning coffee beans from direct sunlight. It also provides habitats for a range of insects, birds and small animals which provide better natural pest control for the coffee plants and promotes good soil-health.

Happy Earth, Happy Us

The result is beans that are able to mature slowly, away from the glare of the sun; developing a richer, sweeter flavor profile with a more complex, nuanced taste. They are sweet, small and dense, as opposed to sun-grown beans which tend to be larger but more bitter, brittle and lack the full spectrum of flavors present in shade-grown beans.

Additionally, shade-grown coffee protects the environment and draws fewer natural resources like water. The Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute note that “While sun-grown systems can have higher yields, shaded farms easily outperform them in sustainability measurements.”

The overhead trees provide shade with their leaves and protection with their roots.  The soil retains water more readily and is less prone to erosion, therefore growing the coffee uses less water and maintains soil-health, causing less damage to the environment. There is also evidence to suggest that, by working in harmony with the native fauna, coffee farmers can reduce their running costs, increasing the plants’ productive lifespan (compared with sun-grown coffee and with “lower labor and input costs for fertilization and pest control that can be more than $2,000 cheaper per hectare.”