This sweet & assertive coffee is a web exclusive for Equator — anaerobic natural-processed by our friends at Beanspire Coffee.
Founders Fuadi Pitsuwan and Jane Kittiratanapaiboon area part of the young generation moving the Thai coffee industry forward.
Origin Story
Mae Chedi Cooperative & Beanspire
The Mae Chedi Cooperative is a group of 19 coffee farmers in the Mae Chedi district of Chiang Rai, Thailand. Mae Chedi is an area that is traditionally known for tea plantations and where tea is still the primary cash crop. With the growing demand for specialty coffee from Thailand however, Mae Chedi’s young generation of farmers are beginning to invest themselves more into coffee production. Members of the co-op are an innovative group of producers, borrowing from their knowledge of tea fermentation practices to apply new fermentation methods into their coffee production.
Coffee farming is a relatively new industry in Thailand, and one that is proving to be attractive to young farmers and entrepreneurs. Thailand's current coffee history dates back to the 1970s, when an opium eradication project introduced the first coffee trees to areas like Doi Saket. Efforts to reforest degraded land and introduce coffee and other crops to replace illicit cultivations have proved to be extremely successful.
Mae Chedi Anaerobic Natural was sourced by Beanspire Coffee, an exporter founded by Fuadi Pitsuwan and Jane Kittiratanapaiboon, who are part of the young generation moving the Thai coffee industry forward. Thailand is unique as a coffee producing country; the country’s specialty cafe and roaster scene is thriving, and domestic consumption demands regularly outpace the country’s production volume. Only around 5% of Thailand’s specialty coffee is exported each year, while the rest is enjoyed by Thai coffee drinkers.
Beanspire’s mill is one of the most advanced in Thailand. Jane and Fuadi have built Beanspire to produce high quality coffee from the outset. This lot underwent Anaerobic Natural processing; coffee cherries were fermented for nine days in sealed bags before being dried. This extended fermentation time is similar to the fermentation period used for tea production in the area. These airtight bags create an anaerobic environment for fermentation, allowing for the production of lactic acid during the fermentation process. This style of fermentation adds body, sweetness, and intense fruit flavors to this Natural Chiang Mai coffee.
Altitude
4,100 feet
Variety
Chiang Mai
Processing
Anaerobic Natural
Why We Love This Coffee
Chiang Rai is Thailand’s northernmost province in what is known as the Golden Triangle, the intersection of the borders with neighboring Myanmar and Laos. The region’s high mountains were once the epicenter of the country’s opium cultivation and smuggling routes, but coffee, banana, coconut, and pineapple crops have replaced illicit farming with environmentally and socially sustainable alternatives.
The city of Chiang Rai is the largest in northern Thailand and has a long history of influence from the various dynasties who have ruled Southeast Asia. Recent reforestation efforts have restored Chiang Rai’s mountains, and Thailand’s young generation sees the potential of farming quality coffee as a path to success for landholders. Farms are located close to cities and are very accessible; this proximity expedites the transitions between processing stages and provides quality assurance.
Good Coffee, Better Planet
We treasure our relationships in the global coffee community and invest in projects at origin to support our partners in their commitment to environmental sustainability and social welfare. We also invest in reducing our day-to-day impact, through initiatives like energy-efficient Loring Smart Roasters to reduce carbon emissions per batch by 80%.
As a certified B Corporation, we are a leader in sustainable practices that impact people and the planet. This third-party certification requires us to demonstrate transparency and accountability throughout our supply chain and quantify the impact our business creates for our employees, the community, and the environment. We are proud to be part of this community working together toward one unifying goal: using business as a force for good.
