Thailand: Asor Merlaeku

Tasting notes

In the roaster’s words

Thailand: Asor Merlaeku, Anaerobic Natural Bursting out of the cup with sweet lemon, yuzu and mango , this coffee settles into raisin and fig on the finish, with a delicate treacle edge to the aftertaste. When Fuadi Pitsuwan first began exploring the potential of Thai specialty coffee he travelled around the country in search of producing partners that could be key allies in his project. Alongside the vital factor of finding farms with great terroir and potential for growth, he also needed to find ambitious farmers who would be willing to experiment and develop alongside his vision for Beanspire. Early on, this search led him to the Merlaeku brothers. This coffee is an Anaerobic Natural mix of Chiang Mai, Typica, and Catuai grown by Asor Merlarku. Recognising Asor’s Work The 5 brothers are part of the Akha hill tribe community and work together on their farms and mill located in Hua Mae Liam village. Asor, who is only 28, became immediately engaged with Fuadi and his working dynamic. He is, according to Fuadi, one of the most sophisticated and innovative farmers he works with, and the specialty coffee he produces reflects outstanding complexities in flavour. In previous years, Thai coffee grown in Hua Mae Liam got shipped on to bigger villages nearby like Doi Chang and Doi Pangkhon to be marketed under their names. In part to consolidate the smaller crops from smallholder farms, in part to benefit from the famous village’s names to appeal to buyers who are more likely to buy coffee from Doi Chang and Doi Pangkhon. We’re now lucky enough to have the opportunity to buy Asor’s coffee independently and give full recognition to the results he has achieved on his farm. Beanspire & Merlaeku Collaboration Beanspire have been a pivotal partner for the Merlaeku brother’s operations in Hua Mae Liam, it’s safe to say that the highly sophisticated processing we see here is thanks in part to their combined efforts over recent years. In the 2017-2018 season, Beanspire invested in the Merlaeku’s wet mill, granting greater control over processing and allowing the mill to also source cherries from outside the family. The following year, the mill was upgraded with a roof, new pulpers, and improved workflows to streamline the milling process. By the next harvest, Beanspire went even further by investing in an electricity generator, building a cupping lab for farmers, and installing new concrete flooring. In 2020-2021, the company leased additional space in the lowlands to imp

Notes

Anaerobic Natural mix of Chiang Mai, Typica, and Catuai produced by Asor Merlarku in collaboration with Beanspire.