Top roaster sees PNG coffee as balanced, good and natural

By JIMMY KALEBE
AN international organic coffee roaster has labelled Papua New Guinea coffee balanced, good, and natural in flavour and aroma, plus a lot of diversity which meet international consumers’ demand.
Mike Murphy, the director of the Kokako Organic Coffee Roasters based in New Zealand, however, said yesterday in Lae the biggest challenge facing the country was the poor road conditions.
He visited Wasu in Tewai-Siassi and parts of Kabwum in Morobe last week and said the roads were “challenging”.
“That is why the transporting of parchments to markets in Lae for export to consumers worldwide is very challenging for farmers. That is same for other provinces as well,” he said.
He attended a coffee cupping session at the Nuigini Coffee and Spices Limited in Lae yesterday.
Under Fairtrade Australia and New Zealand, plans are in place to work with farmers in PNG over the next three years to develop quality beans for export, develop market links and increase partnerships.
Fairtrade supported nine co-operatives in Western Highlands, Jiwaka, Simbu, Eastern Highlands, Morobe and Milne Bay, said Fairtrade spokesman Gabriel Iso.