ABOUT US
A relationship focused green bean exporter & importer, shortening the links in the supply chain between the coffee farmers of Timor-Leste & speciality roasters
Origin Based
We spend 6 months of the year in Timor-Leste and the entirety of the harvest in the mountains of Letefoho, working alongside our partner farmers across 144 households. This investment of time has helped us to better understand their communities, their language, their culture and their expectations. Ultimately, this makes our mutual needs more transparent and allows us to be better partners.
Joint collaboration
Working in direct partnership with producers within their coffee forests and households has helped us to organically foster a mutual trust and respect for one another. We overcome challenges together and respond to needs as they arise, offering support where necessary. To date, this has included direct investment into their infrastructure at farm level and training opportunities focussing on processing speciality coffee as well as giving an extra pair of hands to lift, carry, pick, sort, pulp, wash and dry coffee when needed.
Transparent & Long-Term Relationships
As both importer and exporter, we are able to ensure complete transparency throughout the supply chain and are always delighted to connect partner roasters to partner farmers where possible. We have confidence in our commitment to pay a premium price to our partners knowing that together we are working towards the mutual goal of supplying speciality roasters with exceptionally well-processed speciality beans.
Traceable & Conscientious Coffee
We are delighted to continue sharing the amazing taste of East Timorese coffee with you all. With full transparency, traceability and integrity, we truly know the provenance of our coffee and who has been involved every step of the way.
STEWART
CO-FOUNDER
Stewart first arrived in Timor-Leste in 2016 working as a Project Manager on an educational and capacity building programme with the Timorese military. In 2017, after visiting a colleague’s family farm in Letefoho, Ermera, a spell was cast and he instantly fell in love with the region, the culture, the people and of course, the coffee. From this moment Karst was born with the intention of shining a light on this fascinating origin and its wonderful coffee.
KAR-YEE
CO-FOUNDER
With extensive experience in business development, Kar-Yee was tasked with the challenge of setting up the company in Timor-Leste and has been focussed on the growth and development of Karst Organics since 2018. Being from a family of restauranteurs tasting and sensing different flavours has always been part of everyday life for her and so the progression into tasting and profiling our coffees has become second nature.
MAUN SIMAO
FIELD MANAGER
Maun (brother) Simao is Karst’s Field manager and first point of contact for our coffee community in Letefoho, where he has lived all his life. Having worked in Timor-Leste’s coffee sector for more than 20 years and coming from a long line of farmers he understands very well the needs of Ermera’s coffee producers and the challenges that they face. Maun Simao is integral to ensuring QC across all of our groups and providing support with coffee tree rehabilitation and maintenance.