Lass Malo Coffee (PNG) Visits our Roastery

Lass Malo Coffee (PNG) Visits our Roastery

Have you ever wondered where your morning cup of coffee originates from? Most people automatically think of Brazil or Colombia, but Papua New Guinea is one of our closest coffee producing nations. The rugged terrain of the Eastern Highlands Provence is home to Lass Malo Coffee and their coffee community of smallholder farmers and remote villages.

Growing coffee in this region has historically been a challenge due to the lack of accessibility, equipment and sorting facilities to support these small remote farms. However, in 2015 locals Maureen and Ken established Lass Malo Coffee with a mission to remove these challenges and build confidence and long-term relationships with rural producers. Thanks to the team at LMC, these remote villages and smallholder farmers now have a central access to equipment, sorting facilities and education services allowing them to improve and expand their annual harvests. Along with this the improvement of infrastructure including a conveniently built bridge, and a central dry mill facility has improved farmers’ livelihoods, coffee quality and export opportunities.

The next projects in line for LMC include a new factory to house the latest coffee grading systems and equipment to further maximise the quality output and return on investment for the smallholder farmers in 2023. The relationships developed by Maureen and Ken and the work of LMC in this region is having a positive impact to the future of coffee in this region and providing stability for farmers and their families.

Last month we were fortunate to welcome Maureen and Ken to our Roasting Facility here on the Sunshine Coast with the support of Upstream Green Bean Traders. We were able to sit down over a coffee (or two) and discuss the objectives and challenges on both sides of the coffee journey. It was an amazing experience to show Maureen and Ken first hand how their hard work (and the farmers they represent) back in PNG translates to the amazing coffee we get to enjoy here at Sunshine Coast Coffee Roastery. As they enjoyed a cup of their coffee, they marveled at how the roasting process brings out the unique characteristics and flavours of the bean. The visit was not just about the coffee, but also the shared passion for quality and sustainability that brings coffee lovers together. It is a great reminder that coffee for some is not just a beverage, but a community that connects people and cultures from all over the world.

Next time you’re sipping on your morning cup of joe, take a moment to think and appreciate the hardworking farming communities just like Lass Malo Coffee and the amazing work they do.