Papua New Guinea – Korgua Estate – AA Top Lot

This is a washed AA coffee from the Korgua Estate on the Kuta Ridge in the Waghi valley of Papua New Guinea’s Western Highlands. Unlike the majority of smallholder farms, Korgua harkens back to the old days when estates where more common. The owner, Brian Leahy, also owns the Kuta Mill, established on neutral ground so that coffee growers from rival tribes could bring their coffees to market without 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 purchased the Kuta mill.  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 tribes. This is one of his top lots, wonderful and differentiates itself nicely from the estate coffees.

Tasting Notes:  Great from light to dark roasts. The cup is fuller bodied and a bit creamier, lower acidity and rich. At lighter roasts, a little crisp citric acidity can be found; notes of nutty, caramel, cocoa, herbal spice and floral tones. Anything even into the medium roast range is very chocolaty and smooth with just a pinch of a spice note. Darker roasts get a thick and creamy, nutty, chocolate like with a sweet edge; 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.”