Timor-Leste Eratoi

Located at 1800masl, Eratoi is one of the highest altitude communities that Karst works with. The resulting cooler temperatures found at this height means coffee cherries require slightly more time to ripen so the harvest date is moderately later when compared to our lower altitude groups. Karst has now worked collaboratively with the Eratoi community for seven continuous years having first entered into partnership with lead farmer, Simao Pedro de Deus (now Karst’s field manager) in 2019. Eratoi has now become the largest group that Karst works with and as of 2025, now consists of 40 smallholder farmers each of whom diligently process their coffee in their individual households using traditional practices passed down through generations.

The 2025 harvest produced excellent yields for the farmers of Eratoi which, in addition to favourable weather conditions, was almost certainly due to continued conscientious efforts by farmers to rehabilitate and maintain their coffee trees. With the premium price that Karst pays per kilo for parchment ($4.00 per kg) and the increased volume of cherries that healthy trees are now yielding, household income is continuing to rise year-on-year. For example, Carlito Afonso da Silva, a smallholder farmer (2 hectares) from Eratoi sold 300kg of parchment to Karst in 2025, earning $1,200. If we compare this to 2019’s figures, Carlito sold 200kg of parchment to Karst at $2.85 per kilo earning $570 for his household. Although there is still a long way to go and a lot of work to be done, Carlito is just one example of how conscientious farming practices coupled with responsible sourcing strategies can offer the prospect of improved household income through high-quality, speciality coffee.

Karst’s 7-year partnership with Eratoi has been forged on confidence and trust. Confidence in knowing that all partner farmers will continue to work diligently to maintain the high standards that this delicious, well-balanced fully-washed coffee has become known for and trust in knowing that the effort required to produce speciality coffee of this standard will be acknowledged with a premium purchase price.

Timor-Leste has had a long history of colonisation, domination, and struggle for independence, the shadows of which are still visible today. Coffee was first brought to the island by Portuguese occupiers, who used it as an export crop alongside the much-sought-after sandalwood. After Portugal left the island in 1975 it was immediately invaded and annexed by Indonesia, and during the bloody occupation and resistance that followed coffee cultivation was an afterthought.

Since independence in 1999 coffee production has increased and has become an important part of East Timor’s economy, today being second only to oil and gas in terms of exports. The whole country is “organic by default”, with a distinct lack of man-made fertilisers or pesticides, and potentially the only country in the world to produce exclusively organically-grown coffee.

A third of the country relies on coffee for their income, with the majority grown in the municipality of Ermera—responsible for roughly half the country’s production—and within it the sub-district of Letefoho (where our import partners Karst Organics work).

Did you know?

• Although Timor-Leste's coffee exports make up less than one percent of the global coffee trade, they still account for about 80 percent of the country’s overall exports.
• The majority of coffee grown in Timor-Leste is processed using the washed method, distinguishing it from neighbouring countries such as Indonesia which favour the wet-hulled or Giling Basah method.
• The Timor hybrid, a cross between arabica and robusta coffee plants that has the disease resistance of the latter and the cup quality of the former, was discovered in Timor-Leste in 1920. This hybrid has served as the base of many new varieties bred to combat the coffee leaf rust disease.

Our speciality coffees are 100% traceable and ethically sourced. We work direct with farmers, or through trusted partners, to bring you the best coffee from around the world.

Sourced in partnership with: Karst Organics
Producer relationship length: since 2019