Koileki
 
Wet Mill: Koileki Community Wet Mill
Producers: Koileki Village
Region: Ermera
Country: Timor-Leste
Altitude: 1700 - 1800 MASL
Variety: Hybrido de Timor, Typica
Process: Natural
 
Coffee Information Provided by our green importer Raw Material 
 
 
We are excited to present you coffees from the suco (village) of Koileki. Cherry from Koileki is collected daily at the Koileki Wet Mill, situated at 1800 MASL.

Cherry is first floated in water, to separate the fruit by density. The higher the density, the higher the quality of the coffee. This leaves the low density, less mature cherries to float to the surface, which are easily removed from the water. 
 
The Raimutin station staff then meticulously hand-sort the freshly picked and sorted cherry, removing all damaged or underripe fruit. The cherry is then transported to raised beds, where they are dried in high sun for three weeks. The staff turn the lots regularly to ensure even airflow and sun contact. When the cherries have reached their perfect drying level, the seeds are removed from the cherry and prepared for export. 
 
The remaining cherry is not discarded, rather, it is saved for redistribution as fertiliser to the farmers who grew them.
 
A little more information about the raw material project:
 
The Context 

Having found its sovereignty in 2002, Timor-Leste is one of the world’s youngest countries. As the country finds stability, the development of the agriculture sector is rapidly becoming an important pillar for the structural transformation of the country’s economy.

Timor-Leste currently faces enormous economic upheaval, as its oil reserves begin to run dry. In its place, coffee is set to become that nation’s most vital export. In Timor-Leste, our work is currently focussed namely in the municipality of Ermera. One of thirteen municipalities in the country, it is home to the largest coffee production volumes, whilst almost 60% of the municipality's population live below the poverty line. Coffee is Timor-Leste’s most important crop, and with the end of oil income, improving the coffee sector is of critical importance. Coffee is the second-highest earner for the country after oil, with 37% of households dependent on coffee for income.

However, productivity is extremely low, alongside profitability which is both low and volatile. This is because almost all coffee is sold in the commodity market for a discounted C price. Globally, we use a framework to compare options of where and how we work in terms of potential for economic and social impact. We met with groups of producers in villages across Atsabe to hear about how the coffee market has served them in recent history. 
 
 
Together we developed a plan for a prosperous future through: 
 
1 Sustainably raising and maintaining the quality of Atsabe’s coffee predictably above 80 points 
2 Connecting with those roasters who want to commit long-term 
3 Systematically solving the diverse challenges laying along the path to selling in the specialty market; financial, legal, cultural, infrastructural, technical etc.
 
The Raimutin Wet Mill
 
Our first custom wet mill and processing centre in Timor Leste was built in April 2018, in Atsabe, Ermera. All designed in-house, this processing centre uses gravity to move coffee through the stages; no double handling, no unnecessary machinery. We drew upon our experience working in many other coffee-producing countries to combine elements that would most likely improve Ermera’s coffee quality given the unique set of challenges facing the region. Each section of the plan uses materials that are local and readily available.
 
The Raimutin wet mill serves as a central hub for processing the cherry of the producers we work with across the Ermera municipality. Sitting at 1400 MASL, the wet mill has served not only as a place to purchase, process, and dry cherry, but as a meeting point for the village chiefs and neighbourhood leaders, and Raw Material. Expanding the reach of specialty coffee as a viable option for profitable returns includes the importance of training. The Raimutin Wet Mill has successfully served as the hub for training courses in both cultivation, picking, and processing for local producers.