Trademark processing
Kula
The name
A ceremonial gift exchange.
Kula is the name of a ceremonial gift exchange in Papua New Guinea. Core elements center around honor and integrity. This ceremony highlights different underlying values in the gift versus the commodity economy. In this way, specialty coffee has distinguished itself from commodity coffee.
We value our people, process, and coffees differently in the new world of specialty coffee.
"Coffee is a gift."
The process
Extra work, on purpose.
Our trademark “Kula” coffees follow specific processing guidelines that we request — extra steps beyond our already-rigorous standard process.
-
Dried on raised beds
Rather than ground-level patios, Kula lots are dried on raised beds for more even airflow and moisture control.
-
Two rounds of color-sorting
Doubling the standard color-sort to catch defects a single pass would miss.
-
Two rounds of hand-sorting
A second hand-sort on top of the first, done entirely by hand.
It’s extra work, and it produces some of the cleanest PNG coffee being produced today.
Checked at every stage
All Kula lots are continuously sample-roasted and cupped at origin, and again by our quality control team in Chicago — a final check during processing, before shipment, and upon arrival in America.
Interested in Kula-processed coffee?
Reach out for current lots, tasting notes, and samples.
Request a Sample