ZAMBIA - Kateshi Estate

Established in 1972 near Kateshi Village, Kateshi Estate is one of Zambia's oldest coffee farms and played a key role in developing the country's coffee industry.

Community is at the heart of it all. The estate provides safe drinking water to more than 20,000 people, supports three schools, providing education to over 1,500 students, and operates the only health clinic within a 30km radius, providing free basic healthcare to more than 4,000 community members.

Kateshi has also been recognised for challenging gender stereotypes, becoming the first and only coffee estate in Zambia to employ women in traditionally male-dominated roles such as operating tractors, bulldozers and road graders. The estate also proudly sponsors the Kateshi Coffee Bullets, a football club competing in Zambia's First Division.

Located in Zambia's Northern Province, the Kateshi estate sits on the Mafinga Plateau at approximately 1,500 masl. The region borders Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo and is home to Lake Tanganyika, Africa's deepest and largest freshwater lake by volume.

Only the ripest cherries are selected through a meticulous double hand-picking process. The cherries are then dried on raised beds in thin layers for three to four weeks, with regular turning to promote even drying.

 

The cup

☕ Tasting Notes: Lime candy, boozy, toasted nuts.
☕ Roast level: medium
🧼 Process: natural, dry-processed
🌱 Altitude: ~1500 masl.
🌾 Varietal: Castillo, Catimor 129