Papua New Guinea – Korgua Estate – AA/A Top Lot

A blend of AA and A sized beans from the Korgua Estate. The estate, which is located on the Kuta Ridge of the Waghi Valley of Papua New Guinea, is owned by second generation coffee producer Brian Leahy. Leahy’s father first explored this area in the 1930’s, and established Korgua as one of the very first coffee farms in the area. Korgua Estate was created on neutral ground to allow coffee growers from rival tribes to bring their coffees to market without causing disruption.

I met Brian at the Mount Hagen club on my adventures through PNG, a night I will never forget. This guy was one of the most knowledgeable coffee heads I have ever met on my journeys. At the time he was managing Kimel Estate, but has since left after he took over his families operations; Kuta mill & Korgua Estate.  Lots of smart coffee folk in PNG but many have trouble sticking with it after finding success. A very different life and culture growing coffee in PNG and working with the local tribes. Brian has done a fantastic job and one of the few we know, who would never leave. This is one of his top lots, wonderful and differentiates itself nicely from the Carpenter Estate coffees.

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 some pretty powerful black tea like spice notes almost similar to an African. 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.”