What is the history of coffee within Papua New Guinea?

The German colonists first introduced coffee to Papua New Guinea in the 1800s. At this time, it was not grown for distribution but more for agricultural experimentation. By 1920, coffee had begun to be commercialised and sought after. After WW2, the global demand for coffee skyrocketed, and commercial coffee production boomed across Papua New Guinea. The highest export of coffee on record was 85,000 tonnes in 1989. Today, it has dropped to 20,000 due to the poor infrastructure and increased alternative origins that produce excellent coffee.

The Mt. Hagen region is particularly well suited due to its cool breeze, which lengthens ripening periods and infuses the coffee beans with a richer flavour. Coffees grown here also benefit from the rich volcanic soil before being carefully hand-picked, processed, and sun-dried. This lot from the Western highlands comprises Typica, Arusha and Blue Mountain varieties. Named after its Jamaican origins, the Blue Mountain variety has a particularly long history in Papua New Guinea, as it was one of the first to be cultivated in this region in the 1920s. Its success was ultimately the spark that ignited the development of coffee in this region, spreading coffee cultivation into the highland areas.

Does it produce a high standard of coffee?

Although coffee production began primarily with Robusta, today, 95% of the coffee produced in Papua New Guinea is Arabica. This area produces coffee of a high standard because it is inside the ‘coffee belt’. This is associated with an area of the world that stretches around the equator and, therefore, boasts a warm and humid climate and rich fertile. It is no surprise that coffee loves growing here!

One of the biggest challenges Papua New Guinea faces is that the coffee industry relies on small-scale production. There are some large-scale plantations, but the mountainous terrain has restricted the spread of farming to small areas where Arabica can thrive. This has caused 90% of Papua New Guinea’s overall coffee to be grown by these “coffee gardens”. Due to its lack of fundamental infrastructure, such as roads, regions have become isolated. This means they have had no access to agricultural training, leading to the expansion of the coffee-growing sector becoming limited.

However, Papua New Guinea’s coffee board, the Coffee Industry Corporation Limited (CIC), has worked to improve and regulate the industry. They have done this by providing research and prioritising sustainability within the farming communities. This has further enhanced post-harvesting processes and the coffee’s overall standard and quality.

Where does the name come from?

Admittedly, this is strange (even by our standards!), but we are following in the footsteps of our last grey-labelled coffee by using the what3words location of the area that cultivated it to name it! As this full-bodied brew is bursting with all the incredible characteristics Papua New Guinea offers, it only seems fitting that we give the credit back to the incredible smallholders who grew these beans!