Cravens Blog
Return from East Africa Farms
In the words of The Beatles (Sgt Peppers), Africa’s Burka Estate coffees are “getting better all the time”. Credit to Edwin Agasso, head of Quality Control, with whom I recently spent 2 days visiting the farms, mills and cupping room which comprise Burka. Edwin is a soft-spoken East African native who easily commands respect for his expertise, work ethic and results. I was privileged to spend hours walking the land with Edwin as he talked me through the Burka pioneering agronomical principles leading to tangible improvements in coffee quality. Cravens Coffee is proud to purchase Burka’s extraordinary Peaberry these past 6 years.
By mid-week of my visit, Edwin and I set out for Mondul Estate, the home of Mondul Peaberry purchased by Cravens Coffee for the second year. Once off the main road from Arusha (recognized by safari travelers destined for the renowned Serengeti and Ngorogoro Crater National Parks) we crossed the Masai tribal homeland, around Mount Kilimanjaro’s neighboring Mount Meru and into the highlands. The Burka owners purchased Mondul from an Italian family several years ago. In 1931 two Italian brothers identified this land with it’s mountain spring water source and were determined to plant coffee. Interestingly, the coffee estate came with a wheat farm, which sits in the valley at the base of Mount Meru – a stunning view from the Mondul Estate ridgeline.
Burka Estate cupping room for
Cravens Coffee selection
The Mondul Estate is blessed with high altitude, nutritious soil, ample fresh mountain spring water and a perfect climate. Together with Edwin Agasso’s quality control program, meticulous tree maintenance and a new Pinhalese wet milling system, Mondul is producing coffee you are sure to enjoy. Cravens Coffee is pleased to offer Mondul Estate Peaberry as either a single origin or signature blend. Beginning in October, look for these two coffees in area grocery stores or on line at cravenscoffee.com
In the foothills of Kilimanjaro, on Mondul Mountain, this distinctive East African coffee offers a wine-like profile to an exotic blend.
Flavor Profile: Winey, berry, juicy, fruity, full bodyPrimary
Origin: Tanzania Mondul Estate Peaberry
Roast: Combination light and dark
A rare East Africa high altitude coffee with deep volcanic ash growing conditions – so extraordinary we bought the entire Peaberry lot. A Cravens exclusive!
Flavor Profile: Unique, exclusive, tangy, juicy, depth
Primary Origin: Tanzania Mondul Estate Peaberry
Roast: Dark