YUNNAN - KAKU

FILTER ROAST

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A BIT ABOUT THIS COFFEE

Grown by Mr. Zhang in the beautiful Menglian region of Yunnan, this washed coffee is our first release from Southwestern China.

Kaku—named after the local Lahu language—is produced on one of Menglian’s highest mountains, overlooking the valleys of Southern China and Myanmar.

A vibrant glimpse into a unique and emerging coffee origin. 

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WHY YOU'LL LOVE IT

Caramelised and clean, this coffee offers a lovely sweetness, blending soft fruit notes like apple, pear, and citrus with sugary tones of butterscotch and caramel. A subtle tea-like impression adds a nice complexity to the finish.

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HOW TO BREW

We love it as: Pour Over and filter methods (Black).

Also good as: Plunger, Aeropress, or Batch Brew (61g/Litre). Enjoy!

V60 brew guide:

Dose: 20g

Yield: 300g

Time: 2:45 mins 

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Yunnan – An Emerging Origin to Watch

Yunnan is a naturally stunning and remote region, nestled between Southeast Asia, the Himalayas, and the Tibetan Plateau.

Known for its environmental beauty and rich biodiversity, it’s also one of China’s most culturally diverse areas—home to over 25 ethnic minority groups. 

Coffee was first introduced here by missionaries in the 1890s, but it’s only in the past 30 to 40 years that its potential as a viable cash crop has truly taken hold. Today, Yunnan is gaining recognition for its ability to produce high-quality, specialty-grade coffee.

The Menglian region, in particular, offers ideal conditions for coffee production—diverse natural ecosystems, mountainous terrain, and impressive altitudes for a region so far north of the equator.

Most farmers here are smallholders, often working together through village-based wet mills. With both domestic and international demand for quality Yunnan coffee on the rise, and growing investment in post-harvest practices, the region is seeing a clear shift toward higher quality.

Yunnan is quickly becoming an origin to watch in the specialty coffee world.

Kaku Farm – The Heart of Menglian’s Coffee Excellence

Kaku is a family-owned farm and wet mill, where only washed coffee is produced. Managed with precision and care, Kaku is a standout example of quality coffee farming in Yunnan.

Under the experienced guidance of Mr. Zhang, the farm strives for excellence at every stage. This attention to detail, combined with the region's high altitude, results in a coffee that’s not only incredibly clean but also as complex as you’ll find anywhere in the world.

At Kaku, Mr. Zhang uses a traditional washed processing method, which includes an 18-hour dry fermentation of the parchment. Afterwards, the coffee is washed in narrow channels and sundried in the crisp, high mountain air.

The primary variety grown here—and throughout much of Yunnan—is Catimor (P3 & P4 selections), although a variety of other coffee cultivars are now being planted to further enhance the region’s potential.

A Partnership for the Future

In 2024,  Old Quarter Coffee proudly partnered with Yunnan Coffee Traders to bring the exceptional flavours of Yunnan coffee to the Australian coffee market.

Yunnan Coffee Traders shares our values of supporting producers directly, and their years of dedication to quality are evident in the incredible coffee they help create. 

Together, we aim to introduce Australians to the unique and exciting flavours of Yunnan, one of the world’s most promising coffee origins.