About the Coffee

This lot is produced by smallholder farmers across the Chuave District in Papua New Guinea's Chimbu Province. Here, coffee is traditionally grown in small family-run plots known locally as "gardens", ranging from just a few coffee trees to around three hectares in size. These small farms account for the vast majority of Papua New Guinea's coffee production, with large commercial plantations making up less than 20% of the country's total output.

This smallholder approach allows farmers to carefully cultivate their coffee alongside other crops, preserving traditional farming methods while producing coffees celebrated for their sweetness, complexity and vibrant character.

The Region

Nestled within the mountainous highlands of Chimbu Province, Chuave benefits from cool temperatures, rich volcanic soils and plentiful rainfall—ideal conditions for producing exceptional speciality coffee. The combination of high altitude and favourable climate encourages slow cherry maturation, creating coffees with bright acidity, pronounced sweetness and excellent clarity in the cup.

Coffee farming is central to daily life throughout the region, providing an important source of income for thousands of farming families while helping preserve generations of coffee-growing knowledge.

The Washed Process

After harvest, ripe coffee cherries are pulped before undergoing around 24 hours of dry fermentation in wooden or plastic tanks. The coffee is then thoroughly washed to remove any remaining fruit before being dried on traditional raised tarpaulin drying beds, locally known as "sails", allowing for slow, even drying and careful quality control.

Once dried, the parchment coffee is delivered to Kongo's renovated dry mill, where every lot is cupped, selected and carefully hand-sorted before export. This meticulous processing helps create the clean, vibrant cup profile that washed Papua New Guinea coffees are known for.

Arusha, Bourbon & Typica

This lot combines three respected coffee varietals: Arusha, Bourbon and Typica. Bourbon contributes sweetness and body, while Typica brings elegant acidity and balance. Arusha—believed to be part of the Typica family—is one of the more intriguing coffee varieties found in Papua New Guinea. Although its exact origins remain uncertain, it has earned a reputation for producing beautifully complex, expressive coffees with exceptional cup quality.

Whether you're discovering Papua New Guinea coffee for the first time or already love the region's distinctive flavour profile, Elimbari is a fantastic example of why these coffees continue to gain recognition among speciality coffee enthusiasts.