Papua New Guinea: Eastern Highlands Peaberry Plus

Volcafe PNG is the only exporter to own a wet mill in PNG. Since its purchase in 1995, the Lahamenegu wet mill in the Eastern Highlands has been refreshed with brand-new machinery to take PNG cherries to the next level in quality control. While most smallholders wash and process coffee themselves and bring parchment to market, Volcafe PNG has the capability to buy in cherry and control processing consistency.

The mill’s supply chain services smallholder farms within a 30-kilometer radius and receives freshly harvested cherries daily. In addition to adapting local producers’ mindsets to approach coffee farming as a commercial business, Volcafe PNG has also invested particular focus in building traceability programs and farmer profiles for the PNG green coffee it sources.

Specialty PNG coffee is well-balanced with mellow flavors, moderate acidity, and a full-bodied, buttery quality. The Eastern Highlands is fertile with loamy volcanic soil, and the coffee that comes through the Lahamenegu wet mill is grown at 1550masl spread across approximately 600 hectares of land.

This peaberry green coffee is pleasantly round and creamy, full of dark chocolate and brown sugar notes with hints of blackberry and dried plum and medium acidity.

Cupping Notes: Dark chocolate, cane sugar, white grape, nectarine, and tea-like

Brew Recommendations: Drip, French Press, pour over

Varietal: Typica, Bourbon, Caturra

Region: Eastern Highlands

Altitude: 1550 meters

Process: Wet processed (washed) and patio sun-dried

Equity Pricing (EP) Levels

Sustaining Level: $18 per 12 oz bag (check out subscriptions for deep discounts) | More info below

Uplifting Level: $23 per 12 oz bag (check out subscriptions for deep discounts) | More info below

Benefacting Level: $30 per 12 oz bag (check out subscriptions for deep discounts) | More info below

The Papua New Guinea: Eastern Highlands Peaberry Plus, offered by Keia & Martyn's Coffee, showcases the distinct profile of the Typica varietal grown in the Eastern Highlands. This specific lot is processed using the washed method, a technique often employed to highlight a coffee's inherent acidity and clean finish. While washed coffees are frequently celebrated for their bright, crisp clarity, the inclusion of peaberries—the small, rounded seeds that develop singly within the coffee cherry—often contributes to a more concentrated and uniform roast.

When evaluating this coffee, drinkers may notice a complex interplay between deep, foundational sweetness and delicate fruit notes. The combination of dark chocolate and cane sugar provides a sturdy base, while the white grape, nectarine, and tea-like qualities offer a nuanced brightness. To better understand how these specific descriptors align with broader sensory categories, consult the flavor wheel to explore the relationships between these diverse tasting notes.