What sets us apart...Our boutique roastery was established in 2008 and is located in the Pekerau Hill Country that overlooks Doubtless Bay. The roastery currently services several Far North cafes as well as our own mobile coffee outlet at the local Farmers' Markets. We have also established New Zealand’s only coffee growing project, which kicked off in 2012. Meanwhile we have established 700 trees that have had their first proper harvest in 2017/2018. Ideally coffee plants like temperatures 15–30 degrees, a rainfall average of 1500 to 2500 mm a year and humidity of around 70–90%. Most Arabica coffee is grown in the tropics in higher altitudes, however, our maritime sub-tropical climate here is the equivalent of these conditions. Coffee plants there are grown under canopy to ensure enough humidity, but our humidity here means we don’t need canopy. We also don’t irrigate because of our clay soil, and they will withstand drought conditions once established. However, growing 1200 km outside the coffee-growing belt means that fruiting does not equate to reliable beanset, We are experimenting with 4 different varietals, and we are observing which ones are the best at beanset. Some of these varietals originated from a selection made about thirty years ago by a then Department of Scientific and Industrial Research (DSIR). And we are also trialling a couple of new varietals which looks promising. The sustainable goal is a varietal that has a consistent, annual beanset of 60 – 90 %. |
|
Site powered by 543 Website Design & Online Advertising