South Sudan Equatoria - Single Origin Coffee Beans | Washed Process

Equatoria Coffee is located in Western Equatoria, South Sudan, where an ambitious project is helping to revive the country's historic coffee-growing industry. Operating in the Nzara and Yambio regions, Equatoria works with over 1,500 local farmers, predominantly women and young people, providing coffee seedlings, agricultural training and opportunities to establish a sustainable source of income.This particular coffee is Excelsa, a species indigenous to South Sudan and considerably less common than the familiar Arabica and Robusta. Excelsa is particularly well suited to the region's warm, low-altitude climate, with its resistance to disease and ability to thrive in varied growing conditions making it an excellent choice for local farmers.The coffee undergoes anaerobic honey processing, combining fermentation in a low-oxygen environment with the retention of some of the coffee cherry's natural mucilage during drying. This method can encourage the development of sweetness, distinctive aromatics and complex flavour characteristics.Equatoria's coffee project began taking shape in 2018, with the first international export following in 2024. Alongside producing distinctive coffees, the project is helping to restore a valuable agricultural tradition and create new economic opportunities for communities across Western Equatoria.Initially, ten tonnes of specialty green coffee were exported to Starbucks in 2014. The cooperative is now exporting seven containers per year. Profit from coffee sales is invested in better equipment and training in good agricultural and environmental practices for the farmers, improving quality and quantity of their coffee.

On specialty sourcing, interested farmers are run on-farm baseline surveys provided training workshops, and given ongoing agronomy support. FCP commit to buy from programme farmers and pay premiums over the local price according to the quality delivered.

Most coops are within two hours of our Jaén/Moyobamba offices, enabling quick troubleshooting. Multi-year projects: Falcon Specialty Plus to lift cup quality and premiums—showing a +1.32 average score gain, a peak of 88, and 107 producers enrolled to date—and a Soil Health Initiative targeting 600 farmers to improve soils, reduce chemical use, achieve GCP-equivalent certification, and generate farm-level carbon data.

South Sudan is one of the world's lesser-known coffee-producing countries, despite having a fascinating history of indigenous coffee cultivation.Wild coffee trees have grown in the region for generations, with botanical records dating back to 1919. Research into the country's wild Arabica populations has revealed that they are genetically distinct from neighbouring Ethiopian populations, supporting South Sudan's place within the natural origins of Arabica coffee.The country is also home to indigenous Excelsa coffee.

 

Research undertaken by Dr Aaron Davis at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, helped establish that Excelsa grown by Equatoria descends from native South Sudanese coffee populations documented more than a century ago.Coffee farming was once an important source of income for communities around Nzara, with many residents remembering their parents and grandparents growing and selling coffee. However, years of civil war led to the destruction and abandonment of many farms, severely disrupting the region's agricultural industry.Today, Equatoria Coffee is working to rebuild that heritage. With support from the Netherlands Enterprise Agency, its Excelling in Excelsa project began in 2020, distributing coffee seedlings and training to local growers.By 2025, the project had established over 800 hectares of coffee cultivation across Equatoria's own land and participating farms. Its long-term ambition is to produce 500 metric tonnes of coffee annually by 2031, providing a significant new source of revenue for local communities. The region’s high elevations, fertile volcanic soils and abundant rainfall create ideal conditions for growing high-quality Arabica coffee. Coffee is primarily produced by smallholder farmers who organise through cooperatives and share access to washing stations, processing facilities and export networks. Cooperatives such as KACCO have played an important role in improving quality, supporting farmers and bringing Congolese coffees to the specialty market.

 

Many coffees from eastern Congo are Bourbon-based Arabicas, often grown under shade and processed as fully washed coffees. They are known for their complexity, with flavours that can include stone fruit, citrus, floral notes, sweetness and a balanced acidity

Where: Nzara & Yambio, Western Equatoria, South Sudan

 

Owner/Producer: Equatoria Coffee (Equatoria Teak Company)

 

Varieties: Excelsa (Coffea dewevrei)

 

Altitude: 600–650 MASL.

 

Preparation: Anaerobic Honey Process

 

SCA Cup Score: 82

 

Roast: Light

 

Drink it: Works well in a cafetiere, any type of filter device or as a single origin espresso. Can be enjoyed with or without milk.

 

Tasting Notes: An anaerobic honey processed, single origin coffee. Light roast, with notes of Green apple, pecan and honey.