Discover Coffee at Its Source
Experience the transformation that comes from connecting directly with the farmers and highlands where Cambodia's specialty coffee begins its journey.
Back to HomeWhat This Journey Offers You
Imagine having direct relationships with the cooperatives that grow your coffee. Picture yourself walking through processing facilities in the Mondulkiri highlands, cupping samples with the farmers who nurtured each bean, understanding their methods and challenges firsthand. This program brings that vision into reality.
You'll return home with more than sample bags. You'll carry genuine relationships built on mutual understanding, insight into agricultural conditions that affect quality, and confidence in your sourcing decisions. The cooperatives you meet become partners you can call upon for years to come.
For roasters who value transparency and authenticity in their supply chain, this discovery program opens doors that typically remain closed. You'll gain access to emerging lots before they reach wider markets, develop direct communication channels, and establish yourself as someone the farming communities recognize and trust.
The Challenge You're Facing
You know that Cambodia's coffee regions hold potential. Perhaps you've heard whispers of interesting Arabica coming from Mondulkiri, or noticed increasing mentions of Ratanakiri processing innovations. But finding reliable entry points feels like navigating without a map.
Language barriers complicate communication. Cultural differences in business practices create uncertainty. The distance between your roastery and these highland farms seems vast, both geographically and relationally. How do you know which cooperatives produce quality worth pursuing? Who can you trust when making initial connections?
Many roasters want to diversify their origin portfolio or support emerging coffee regions, yet the practical steps remain unclear. Sample procurement from unfamiliar territories carries risk. Without someone who understands both the local landscape and international buyer expectations, the path forward feels uncertain.
These hesitations are completely understandable. Exploring new origins should feel exciting, not overwhelming. What's needed is a guide who can walk this path alongside you, making introductions and facilitating understanding until you feel comfortable proceeding independently.
Our Approach to Origin Discovery
Rather than overwhelming you with information, we start by learning about your roasting philosophy, quality standards, and volume requirements. This understanding shapes which cooperatives we introduce you to, ensuring the connections make sense for your specific needs.
The program centers on face-to-face meetings in Mondulkiri and Ratanakiri provinces. You'll visit processing facilities during operations, observe quality control practices, and cup samples while discussing flavor profiles with the people who know these coffees intimately. These conversations happen through interpretation when needed, removing language as a barrier.
We handle logistics so you can focus on relationship building and coffee evaluation. Transportation between farms, accommodation arrangements, and meeting scheduling all get managed quietly in the background. Your energy goes toward the connections and learning that brought you to Cambodia.
Sample procurement happens according to your timeline. Some buyers prefer taking samples immediately for evaluation back home. Others choose to establish relationships first, arranging sample shipments afterward. The program adapts to your purchasing process rather than imposing a rigid structure.
What Working Together Looks Like
Before Your Arrival
We discuss your sourcing goals and quality expectations through video calls or email exchanges. This conversation helps us identify which cooperatives align with your needs. You'll receive background information about each farming community before meeting them, along with practical guidance for your visit.
During Your Highland Visit
Your days begin with drives through scenic highlands to reach farming communities. Each visit includes facility tours, processing observation, and extended cupping sessions. Farmers share their approaches to cultivation and processing while you evaluate quality firsthand. Evenings provide time to reflect on what you've learned and discuss next steps.
Following Your Return
Sample evaluation happens at your own pace back in your roastery. When you're ready to discuss potential purchases or establish ongoing relationships, we facilitate those conversations. Many partnerships evolve gradually over multiple harvest seasons as trust deepens and volumes increase naturally.
Your Investment in Origin Development
$1,100 USD
Discovery Program
This investment covers comprehensive support for your origin exploration journey. Rather than navigating Cambodia's coffee regions alone, you gain access to relationships and knowledge developed over years of consistent presence in these highlands.
What's Included
- Pre-visit consultation to understand your sourcing requirements and identify suitable cooperatives
- Coordinated visits to three to five farming cooperatives in Mondulkiri and Ratanakiri provinces
- Transportation throughout highland regions with experienced local drivers familiar with agricultural areas
- Interpretation services during all farm visits and business discussions
- Sample procurement assistance with up to five kilograms of green coffee for evaluation
- Ongoing relationship facilitation for ninety days following your visit as partnerships develop
Accommodation and international travel to Cambodia are arranged independently. We can provide recommendations for suitable lodging near the farming regions upon request.
Why This Approach Works
Since November 2019, we've facilitated connections between international buyers and Cambodian farming cooperatives. The relationships formed through this program have resulted in container shipments ranging from initial trial lots to ongoing seasonal purchases. Success comes from matching buyer requirements with cooperative capabilities thoughtfully.
Roasters who complete the discovery program typically establish relationships with one to three cooperatives that align with their quality standards and volume needs. Some begin with small test shipments of two to three bags, while others commit to larger initial purchases based on sample evaluation. The program creates conditions for informed decision-making rather than rushed commitments.
The timeline from initial visit to first shipment varies. Some buyers receive samples within weeks and place orders for the current harvest. Others prefer building relationships over multiple seasons before committing to purchases. Both approaches succeed because the foundation of direct communication and mutual understanding supports whatever pace makes sense for your business.
Progress happens through continued dialogue. Following your highland visit, communication channels remain open for questions about processing methods, harvest timing, or shipping logistics. Many buyers return for subsequent visits in later seasons, deepening relationships as their sourcing programs expand.
You're Protected Throughout This Journey
If cooperative visits don't reveal sourcing opportunities that meet your standards, that outcome is acceptable. The program aims to connect you with quality coffee, not to pressure purchases. Some buyers discover that Cambodian origins don't suit their current needs, and parting with that clarity serves everyone well.
Should you feel the facilitation doesn't meet your expectations at any point during the program, we'll address your concerns directly. Your satisfaction with the process matters more than completing a prescribed schedule. Adjustments happen naturally when something isn't working as intended.
Sample quality occasionally varies from what you observed during highland visits. Processing inconsistencies or storage conditions can affect green coffee. When this occurs, we work with cooperatives to understand what happened and determine if replacement samples make sense. Your evaluation of coffee quality remains paramount.
No obligation extends beyond the discovery program itself. Meeting cooperatives doesn't require purchasing commitments. Building relationships happens at the pace that feels right for your business circumstances. Many successful partnerships begin with simple conversation and develop gradually over time.
How to Begin This Discovery
Your first step involves sharing information about your roasting business and sourcing interests. A brief conversation helps us understand what you're looking for in new origins. This discussion happens via email or video call, whichever feels more comfortable for you.
Based on that conversation, we identify cooperatives whose offerings seem to match your requirements. You'll receive background information about each farming community, including their processing methods, typical flavor profiles, and current production volumes. This preparation helps you arrive in Cambodia ready to ask informed questions.
Scheduling your highland visit depends on harvest timing and your availability. The main harvest runs from November through February, though processing continues into early spring. Some buyers prefer visiting during peak harvest to observe operations fully, while others choose quieter periods for more focused conversations. Both timing options offer value.
Following your visit, the relationship development timeline becomes yours to determine. We remain available for facilitation and communication support as partnerships evolve. Whether you move quickly toward purchase discussions or take time building familiarity, the process unfolds according to what makes sense for your situation.
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