Papua New Guinea – Bebes Washing Station – A/X

Coming from the  Bebes washing station in the Eastern Highlands of Papua New Guinea. Sero Bebes is the owner of the washing station which he has be running since around 2010. Sero owns a 34 hectare (84 acre) plantation that was planted in 1968.

From the seaside city of Lae on the east coast of Papua New Guinea, the Highland Highway winds for 200 miles and climbs 5,000 feet to reach Goroka, the center of coffee cultivation for the region. In the Eastern Highlands much of the coffee is still grown on very small “garden” plots alongside household subsistence crops. In the highlands, morning fog fills the valleys and the mountain peaks float above in the sun, the highest reaching nearly 15,000 feet. As the fog lifts, so does the chill. Clouds gather, and the afternoon warmth is often accompanied by fierce thunderstorms, which vanish as suddenly as they appear, making room for the whole cycle to start over again, and ideal climate for growing coffee.

Tasting Notes:  Great from medium to dark roasts. The cup is fuller bodied and a bit creamier, lower acidity and rich. At lighter roasts, a little acidity can be found which brings small notes of nutty, caramel and floral tones but will have an earthier terroir. Anything even into the medium roast range is very chocolaty and smooth with just a pinch of a spice note. Darker roasts get a bit fuller bodied and roasty with some nice smoky accents.

Roasting Notes: Easy to roast, a nice processing batch. Roasts fairly even and is tasty at a little fuller roast points. For a milder everyday drinker, a nice stronger medium roast (a little before 2nd crack) is good. Darker roasts (into 2nd crack) get  bolder and a little more semi-sweet chocolaty but the roasty notes compliment the cup and darker roast fans will love it.

To learn more about PNG’s unusual coffee industry, check out our recent blog article “The Wild West of Coffee Production.”