Papua New Guinea: Arokara AA, Eastern Highlands

Grown in the Eastern Highlands of Papua New Guinea, Arokara AA and AX coffees come from the Arokara Cooperative and its network of local plantations, including Tairora and Gadsup. Today, these farms are owned and managed by their original landowner groups, who cultivate coffee without chemical fertilizers or pesticides. Cherries are hand-picked by the local clans, pulped the same day, and fermented for approximately 36 hours before being washed with fresh mountain stream water from the Aru River. The coffee is then sun-dried for 7–12 days, developing the distinctive bluish appearance associated with coffees from the region.

Papua New Guinea’s rugged mountains and diverse coffee-growing communities create coffees known for vibrant acidity, complexity, and a distinctive character. Many local producers grow coffee in traditional “coffee gardens”—small plots often cultivated alongside subsistence crops. Arokara reflects this unique farming heritage while benefiting from careful, consistent processing.

Cupping Notes:  dark chocolate, ripe plum, and earthy tones, balanced by a creamy body and wine-like acidity

Learn more about PNG coffee beans with our dedicated guide.