HATUHEI
Altitude: 1500 maslLead Farmer: Carlos & Maria de Deus
Google Earth Co-ordinates: 8°51’29″S 125°28’04″E
| Working together | Since 2020 | Process | Fully-washed |
| Harvest Period | July – August | Packaging | 30kg (Ecotact & Jute) |
| No. of farmers | 25 | Screen Size | 17, 16, 15 |
| Varietal | Typica, Timor Hybrid | What we taste | Red Apple, Milk Chocolate, Citrus |
Situated in the south-eastern part of Letefoho, the remote community of Hatuhei continues to be one of the region’s most difficult areas to access. Although there have been murmurings about governmental investment into improving road conditions in Hatuhei, this has yet to materialise and during the wet season, access in and out of the village is still only possible on foot.
2024 was our fifth consecutive year of working together with the coffee famers of Hatuhei and we are proud of the positive impact we have had on the community. Whilst opportunities to earn money may be limited in this remote location, through the processing of speciality coffee, members have been able to steadily increase their annual household income. This has primarily been achieved through our sustainable pricing strategy which has seen yearly incremental increases in parchment cost and also through the promotion of rehabilitation activities in members coffee forests.
Carlos de Deus (Hatuhei’s lead farmer) along with Simao Pedro de Deus (our field manager and lead farmer of the Eratoi group,) have worked continuously within the community promoting coffee tree rehabilitation activities. Although some members may have been sceptical, demonstration rehabilitation plots in Eratoi proved vital in teaching farmers the importance of pruning and plant maintenance so as to increase yield. Whilst this still needs considerable work, we are pleased of the small inroads we have made here and proud that over 200 coffee tree seedlings were planted in Hatuhei which were a direct result of green bean sales to partner roasters in the UK last year.
The 2024 Hatuhei coffee will not disappoint and after 5 years of working together, partner farmers are acutely aware of the high standard of processing expected from the UK and European speciality market. Expect to find the sweetness of red apple and citrus, and milk chocolate undertones from this wonderful coffee which has fast become one of our most popular everyday drinkers.
