Coffee of the Month - Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea: Paraka Koi Natural

Grower: Ulya Mill

Variety: Bourbon, Arusha, Typica

Region: Ulya, Jiwaka Province, Papua New Guinea

Altitude: 1500-1700 masl

Soil: Volcanic Loam

Process: Full natural and dried in the sun

Roast Level:  Medium

Profile Notes: Blueberry, plum, spiced apple cider, rose, nutmeg, chocolate

PNG might also be one of the most underexplored and challenged coffee origins at least in terms of supply chain.   Farms are small and located in remote areas where individual producers, along with family support, manage their own land averaging just a few acres in size.   They only have access to organic inputs and little to no infrastructure for post harvest processing beyond picking and sorting cherries.  Supply chain support can be very challenging for small producers in PNG.   Fortunately, a new exporter called Monpi Coffee Exporters is working to provide supply chain support for more than 1000 producers who cultivate coffee around the Waghi Valley region.  Monpi Coffee has invested in a centralized wet mill, local warehouses and logistics to facilitate moving coffee to their wet mill also located near the town of Ulya.

Processing Details

Monpi Coffee’s centralized wet mill is designed to support the harvests from small farms so farmers do not have to invest in mill equipment.  Harvesting is small enough for each individual farmer to focus on meticulous cherry sorting. After purchasing and transporting to the central mill,  cherries are floated to remove damaged and underripe coffee seeds, and then dried.  Monpi Coffee has made infrastructure innovations like additional drying structures that have greatly improved their ability to consistently meet quality standards for moisture content and water activity.

Exporting Details

Monpi Coffee provides quality control and access to the international market.  Monpi Coffee is also helping farmers with technical support for achieving improved farm management practices and income diversification strategies.  Farmers are starting to earn more because the quality of the coffee has attracted the attention of importers and roasters, present company included.