Sarawak Liberica Refinement Project

This project aims to enhance the quality of Liberica and Excelsa coffee in the Sarawak and Borneo region.

Our strategy comprises 5 components: Quality Improvement, Sustainability, Empowerment, Transparency, Market Access

Based on the above principle, Our team provides advice and guidance to local Liberica cultivators on various aspects, including proper germination techniques, effective cultivation practices for healthy and high-yielding Liberica trees, disease management, appropriate processing methods, market analysis, and the establishment of a sustainable purchasing program to ensure profitable returns for Liberica growers in Sarawak. It is important to note that there are no binding agreements involved in this project.

In 2019, we co-organized the Borneo Coffee Symposium with the Sarawak Agricultural Department. Coffee experts and farmers from around the world were invited to share their experiences with local coffee cultivators. An MOU was signed between Earthlings and the Department of Agriculture Sarawak to help boost the local Liberica coffee industry.

The world's first Liberica Roasting Competition was held by Earthlings Coffee and Q-Cup Coffee Roasters simultaneously with the Borneo Coffee Symposium. An international panel of judges was invited to evaluate the competition.

The first Liberica flavour lexicon report was compiled by Dr. Steffen Schwarz from the Coffee Consulate Germany, based on the flavour descriptions provided by a group of international judges.

Since then, we have developed a series of Liberica products and also collaborated with Mr. Jason Brooke, whose ancestor, Rajah Brooke, is believed to be the first to introduce the Liberica coffee species into Sarawak, creating the Brooke Blend Coffee.

In 2023, after the pandemic, we began to assist local Liberica growers in the Padawan area.

And during March, we were invited by Mr. Alasdair Clare to assist and support Liberica growers in Long Banga by providing them with coffee cultivation and processing advice and establishing a direct-trade relationship.

June 2023, we collaborated with the Department of Agriculture Sarawak to conduct a seminar for our fellow Liberica growers in Long Banga and Long Balong, further deepening our cooperation.

We later visited Uma Bawang by the invitation of John Barah, Alexander, and Peter Mering, providing training to the local Liberica growers.

In order to identify the variants of local Liberica in Sarawak and to find varieties with higher productivity, better flavour and superior environmental adaptability, we have begun collecting inland Liberica specimens. In cooperation with Kew Gardens, we are analysing and studying the DNA lineage of the local Liberica.


On the other hand, we are also collaborating with the Coffee Consulate from Germany to identify the unique flavours of each variety.

We recently finished our initial experiment using a micro anaerobic pulp nature process with low-altitude Liberica coffee in Sarawak. Following that, we carried out a second, smaller-scale Liberica anaerobic pulp nature process at an altitude of 550 meters above sea level in Long Banga. Our goal is to improve the quality of Sarawak's Liberica coffee by implementing more advanced processing techniques and meeting the ever-evolving flavour preferences of the specialty coffee market.

Our story about the Sarawak Liberica Refinement Project has gained international recognition, featuring prominently in renowned publications such as BBC Story, MAS Magazine, and the South China Morning Post. These publications have played a pivotal role in promoting our locally cultivated Liberica coffee.

We were deeply honoured to host a visit from our Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Datuk Seri Haji Mohamad bin Sabu, along with the team from FAMA, as a testament to their acknowledgment of our tireless efforts in advancing Liberica coffee production in Sarawak.

In 2023, we were honoured to have the opportunity to present the Liberica Refinement Project at the International Coffee Convention (ICC) in Mannheim, Germany. We shared the stage with a group of world-renowned international coffee experts from organisations such as the Coffee Consulate (CC), International Coffee Organization (ICO), World Coffee Research (WCR), and various universities.

During the conference, valuable knowledge and skills were exchanged among participants. Additionally, various types of Sarawak Liberica Coffee from this project were showcased for sensory examination during the event, and they received a great response.

In our sixth year of collaboration with the Wilhema Botanical Garden in Stuttgart, we brought 20 potential Liberica variants discovered in Sarawak to be included in "The International Conservation Collection of Coffee Varieties" project.

To gain a more scientific understanding of the various Liberica coffee species and their variants cultivated throughout the interior regions of Sarawak at the genetic level, with the aim of assisting in our future quality optimisation and breeding programs, we took different Liberica samples collected from various locations in Sarawak to the Royal Botanic Gardens, KEW, in the United Kingdom. There, we initiated a collaboration with the renowned senior coffee researcher, Dr. Aaron P. Davis, with the hope of completing the full genetic lineage identification work for all coffee varieties in Sarawak.

We are thrilled that with the support of Diana Jitam and Wendy Luta from the Department of Agriculture Sarawak, more coffee farmers from Kampung Teringgus Bong, Kampung Tijirak, and Kampung Munggu Kopi, who are keen on enhancing the quality of Liberica coffee, have become part of our Liberica Refinement Program.

The Coffee Berry Borer (CBB) has always been a major challenge on our path to coffee quality control. Earthlings has recently participated in assisting the Department of Agriculture Sarawak in hosting an Integrated Pest Management course and installing practical plots in coffee plantations. We are thankful for the efforts of Pak Anto from ECOM Indonesia, who preemptively inoculated the future of the Sarawak Liberica coffee industry.

In early 2024, we've reintroduced two distinct variants of authentic Excelsa coffee for extensive research and breeding collaboration with the Department of Agriculture Sarawak, aiming to enhance Liberica productivity and contribute significantly to Sarawak's dynamic coffee industry. Despite persistent confusion between Liberica and Excelsa coffees, particularly in Sarawak's inland highlands, last year's botanical analysis, conducted at various institutes across Europe on more than 20 samples, revealed that all were identified as Liberica and other undetermined coffee variants or species, dispelling prior misidentifications. Ongoing DNA research with new samples, in collaboration with Kew Gardens in the UK, is underway, with intentions to publish related papers later this year. The scientific community's ongoing debate on the classification of Coffea liberica var. liberica and Coffea liberica var. excelsa introduces complexity, while visual disparities between Liberica and Excelsa significantly impact growth and morphology. Despite genetic intricacies, their distinct forms are substantial enough for rational farmers to avoid cultivating both types in the same area.

In our dedicated pursuit of refining coffee processing methods in Sarawak's unique environment, we're proud to announce our attainment of the Coffee Quality Institute (CQI) Q Processing Level 2 Robusta Professional certification, a crucial step in enhancing Liberica coffee quality. Acknowledging the nuanced differences between Canephora and Liberica, we believe that deploying distinct microbial approaches and advanced processing techniques will significantly elevate the calibre of Liberica coffee beans. Our next phase involves extensive, long-term experiments in collaboration with the local Department of Agriculture, focusing on various Liberica coffee fermentation methods. Through rigorous quality assessments, we aim to position Liberica strategically within the specialty coffee market segment, promising our audience an unparalleled coffee experience. Stay tuned as we venture into the intricate world of coffee processing, pushing boundaries for excellence in Sarawak coffee.