Costa Rica Aquiares
Founded in 1890, Aquiares is one of Costa Rica’s most historic coffee farms and sits high on the slopes of the Turrialba volcano. Producer Diego Robelo, who took over from his father Alfonso drove the sustainability of the farm. Aquiares is Rainforest Alliance certified, has a proven regenerative agriculture model and was the first coffee farm ever to become carbon neutral certified.
This centroamericano hybrid variety has adapted its Ethiopian genes well to the volcanic soils of Aquiares and the shade of the fields. The coffee was dried on raised African beds before being finished off in the mechanical Guardiola dryers. Our relationship with Diego and Aquiares estate goes back to 2017 when he visited us here in the Scottish Highlands and sportingly climbed Schiehallion with us on one of the coldest days of February.
Ethiopia Bette Buna
Bette Bunna, meaning “House of Coffee,” is based in the highlands of Taferi Kela, Sidamo, where coffee production is closely connected to community life and local opportunity. What began as a family responsibility has developed into a wider effort to produce high-quality coffee while supporting long-term development for farming communities. The company works with a skilled team that manages each stage of production with careful attention to quality, traceability and consistency.
At the Taferi Kela farm, freshly picked cherries are delivered to Bette Bunna’s wet mill, where they are processed alongside cherries supplied by surrounding community farmers. Further south-east, in Megadu, Guji, Bette Bunna works with local chiefs and farmers to manage and harvest coffee from shared land, with cherries processed at the Megadu wet mill. This structure is designed to keep knowledge, responsibility and value within the producing communities.
Kenya Tegu AB
In the highlands of Kenya, where fertile volcanic soils meet cool mountain air, Tegu Factory produces coffees that are widely recognized for their clarity and vibrancy. Situated near the town of Karatina in Nyeri County, this washing station operates under the Tekangu Farmers’ Cooperative Society, alongside its sister factories Karogoto and Ngunguru. Established in 1969, the cooperative now supports around 1,200 smallholder farmers, most of whom cultivate less than one hectare of land across nearby villages.
The name “Tegu,” meaning “low place,” reflects its geographical setting in the foothills between Mount Kenya and the Aberdare Range. At an altitude of approximately 1,700 meters above sea level, the region benefits from conditions ideal for coffee cultivation. The combination of rich soil, high elevation, and a cool climate slows the maturation of coffee cherries. This extended development period allows sugars and acids to concentrate, resulting in the bright, citrus-forward profiles that have become synonymous with Kenyan coffees.
