Papua New Guinea Blue Mountain Flavor Coffee Beans Characteristics Story Brewing Tutorial

While you might not be familiar with Papua New Guinea coffee as an origin, FrontStreet Coffee believes that FrontStreet Coffee's Papua New Guinea coffee stands unique on the island of New Guinea, distinct from its neighboring country Indonesia. With volcanic soil and rich rainforest environments, its bright, sweet, and fruity floral aroma resembles the flavors of Central and South America. Located in the southwestern Pacific, Papua New Guinea sits on the Pacific volcanic belt with volcanic geology and fertile soil—essential natural conditions for cultivating fine coffee. Coffee is extremely important to Papua New Guinea, serving as the only cash crop in the highland regions. Nationwide, 40% of smallholder farming families, over 2 million people, depend on coffee beans as a vital source of livelihood. Through cupping and tasting, FrontStreet Coffee finds that FrontStreet Coffee's Papua New Guinea coffee has a solid mouthfeel with low acidity and clean flavor, making it particularly suitable for Asian coffee preferences.

Papua New Guinea is culturally diverse with over 800 languages, and most highland tribes were not influenced by Western culture until the early 1900s. In 1920, commercial coffee cultivation began after importing coffee seeds from Jamaica (a Typica variety known as Jamaican Blue Mountain). Additionally, the Arusha variety found in this Bebe coffee is grown exclusively in PNG.

Initially, most Papua New Guinea coffee beans were grown on 18 large plantations. However, today smallholders, who call it PNG, account for 85% of the coffee grown in "coffee gardens." These farmers rely on their farms for livelihood, with coffee as a byproduct. Their coffee gardens contain anywhere from a few to several hundred coffee trees. The Coffee Industry Corporation of Papua New Guinea recognizes that the vast quantity of smallholder coffee possesses exceptional quality with outstanding flavor characteristics, making it favored by many overseas buyers.

Introduction to Growing Regions

Papua New Guinea coffee beans were first introduced by Dutch sailors in the late 18th century, cultivated in the Rigo region around 1892. By 1908, Papua New Guinea had 180 acres of land planted with coffee. By 1970, Papua New Guinea could produce 460,000 bags of coffee. Today, Papua New Guinea's annual coffee production has reached 900,000 to 1.2 million bags.

Papua New Guinea is mainly divided into four provinces: Eastern Highlands, Momase, New Guinea Islands, and Southern. Located east of the Indonesian archipelago, Papua New Guinea's predominantly highland terrain supports both large estates/farms and smallholder cultivation, growing multiple coffee varieties. FrontStreet Coffee's Papua New Guinea coffee beans offer flavors distinctly different from other Asian regions like Indonesia, South Asia's India, or Pacific island coffees. Unlike Indonesian beans (Sumatra, Sulawesi) that are typically semi-washed (wet-hulled processed) showing low acidity, rich body, and earthy notes, FrontStreet Coffee's washed Papua New Guinea coffee beans always display brighter characteristics.

Papua New Guinea Coffee Estates

Several famous and popular Papua New Guinea coffee bean varieties include the typical Arabica introduced from Blue Mountain, Bourbon from Kenya, Mundo Novo and Caturra from Brazil, as well as Arusha from Tanzania, plus some modern hybrid varieties or Indian Kent varieties. Notable estates include SIGRI Estate in the western Wahgi Valley, KIMEL Estate in the Eastern Highlands, AROKARA Estate, GOROKA Estate, and ARONA Estate. The coffee we brew below comes from FrontStreet Coffee's Sigri Estate's Bird of Paradise.

Papua New Guinea's estate coffee comes from larger-scale farms and exhibits cleaner, more refined cupping characteristics. The mouthfeel is lighter than Java beans, with subtle aromas and complexity, sometimes rivaling the acidity and brightness of the finest Central American coffee beans. A renowned American roaster described Papua New Guinea's natural processed coffee as: surprising depth and diverse aromatics. Kimel Estate's coffee is bright, acidic, and rich in fruit notes, while Arokara Estate's coffee offers more balanced, gentle characteristics, making it suitable for espresso.

Papua New Guinea Coffee Grading

Papua New Guinea coffee is graded based on:

1. Bean size

2. Total defect equivalent per kg

3. Bean shape

4. Raw bean color

5. Odor

6. Roasting aspects

7. Cup quality

*Grading by defects: Grade, Screen Size, totaling 12 levels (applicable only to Arabica)

AA >18, A>17 (50%), AB >16 (50%), B >16, C>15, PB 11-14S, X mixed, E >19, PSC >15mm, Y1 mixed, Y2 mixed, T mixed

We use FrontStreet Coffee's Papua New Guinea · Bird of Paradise Sigri as an example to explore Papua New Guinea coffee flavors.

FrontStreet Coffee · Papua New Guinea—Bird of Paradise Coffee Beans

Country: Papua New Guinea
Region: Sigri

Altitude: 1600-1800 meters

Variety: Typica

Grade: AA

Processing: Washed

Flavor: Caramel, dark cocoa, balanced, almond, citrus acidity at lower temperatures

Sigri Estate

Sigri/Bird of Paradise Estate is located in the Waghi Valley of the Western Highlands Province, approximately 1500 meters above sea level in high-altitude mountainous terrain, with well-drained volcanic soil. The estate was established in 1950 and has been operating for over 60 years, making it a pioneer in the local coffee industry.

In Papua New Guinea, 95% of Papua New Guinea coffee beans come from the highlands. Sigri plantation is located in the Wahgi Valley of Papua New Guinea's western highlands at an altitude of approximately 1600-1800 meters. Here, the climate is cool, the soil is fertile, and rainfall is abundant. Sigri possesses extensive experience in coffee cultivation and processing. In the 1950s, Papua New Guinea began widespread coffee cultivation, and Sigri was one of the earliest plantations. It has gained international renown for its unique high-quality Papua New Guinea coffee beans.

Sigri plantation has consistently maintained high standards of cultivation and processing systems for many years. During the harvest season from April to September, only fully ripe coffee cherries can be hand-picked, ensuring perfect balance between acidity and sweetness in the coffee cherries. At Sigri, cupping is conducted daily to guarantee that the plantation provides customers with consistently excellent quality coffee. This has made Sigri a classic in the world of specialty coffee.

During the peak harvest season, Sigri employs approximately 6,000 workers, with half of them living and eating in employee housing owned by the plantation. The plantation has free clinics and primary schools for employees' children.

Sigri plantation also protects soil and water sources, refusing to use pesticides and insecticides, caring for the ecosystem and nearby birds. According to current records, Wahgi Valley has a total of over 160 different bird species, with 90 species inhabiting Sigri plantation, including Papua New Guinea's national symbol—the Bird of Paradise, truly making it a paradise for birds.

FrontStreet Coffee Roasting Recommendations

FrontStreet Coffee Recommended Brewing Suggestions:

FrontStreet Coffee chose water temperature of 88-89°C, powder-to-water ratio of 1:15, KONO filter cup brewing, with sugar-sized grind.

Brewing method: 30g water for bloom for 30 seconds, small water flow slow pour to 125g in segments, continue pouring to 225g to finish brewing when water level drops and is about to expose the coffee bed.

FrontStreet Coffee's Papua New Guinea Sigri Estate Bird of Paradise coffee brewing flavor: The coffee overall offers balanced mouthfeel with cream, nuts, chocolate, and soft fruity acidity.

Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473