DAZZLING AROMAS
MEMORABLE FLAVOURS

COFFEE

Arabica coffee beans are believed to be the first species of coffee to have been cultivated. It is more acidic, less bitter, and less highly caffeinated than the robusta bean resulting in a smoother, sweeter drink with a more nuanced flavour than other coffee types, with notes of nuts, chocolate, fruit, and caramel.

Plants grow between 30 and 39 feet tall and have an open branching system; the leaves are opposite, simple elliptic-ovate to oblong and are between 2.5 to 4.5 inches long and broad, glossy dark green in colour. The flowers are white and grow in axillary clusters with the seeds contained in a drupe (also referred to as "cherry") and are bright red to purple when mature with each cluster typically containing two seeds. These are the coffee beans which are then dried and named "DRUGAR". The beans are graded into three size categories; Screen 18 the larger beans and Screen 15, mid-sized and Screen 12, the smaller beans. If the beans have been washed they are referred to as "WUGAR" and the size categories labelled A, AA and AB.

The plants take approximately seven years to mature fully and grow best in areas that get 36 to 48 inches of rain, evenly distributed throughout the year. The best conditions are at an altitude between 4,300 and 4,900 ft. The plant can tolerate low temperatures, but not frost, and it does best with an average temperature between 15 and 24 °C and located in light shady areas.

This makes Mount Elgon the perfect location to grow the arabica coffee crop.

ARABICA BEANS (High Altitude)

MOUNT ELGON, UGANDA

ROBUSTA BEANS (Low Altitude)

Robusta Coffee is coffee made from the beans of the Coffea canephora plant, the origins of which are in Africa. Robusta coffee is notoriously bitter and is used primarily in instant coffee, espresso, and as a filler in certain blends of ground coffee.

Robusta coffee beans come from a resilient plant that can be grown at low altitudes of 200-800 meters. Robusta beans aren't very susceptible to pests' damage, and they produce more finished products per acre and require relatively low production costs. Contrariwise, Arabica coffee beans are fragile and must grow in cool, subtropical climates. Arabica beans also need a lot of moisture, rich soil, shade, and sun. Because of their fragility, Arabica beans are vulnerable to attack from various pests and can be damaged by cold temperatures or poor handling. This type of bean also needs to be grown at a higher elevation (600-2000 meters).