Zambia Kateshi Estate AA

In the highlands of northern Zambia, near the village of Kateshi, sits one of the country's oldest and most consequential coffee farms. The cherries that became this lot were picked, pulped, and fermented here before crossing an ocean to our roastery.

OriginZambia RegionNorthern Province, Kateshi Estate Elevation1,300-1,400m ProcessWashed, AA grade VarietyBourbon, Catimor The Source

A Farm With Deep Roots

Kateshi Estate was established in 1972 and grew into the central wet mill for coffee across northern Zambia. The Northern Province has the most favorable conditions for arabica in the country, with growing sites near the equator and consistent high-altitude terroir. At 1,300 to 1,400 meters, the estate's cherries develop slowly and densely, which shows up in the cup as structure and clarity.

The estate's work reaches well beyond coffee. It provides safe drinking water to more than 20,000 people, supports three schools serving over 1,500 students, and runs an on-site health clinic that offers free basic care to thousands in the surrounding community. Kateshi is also the first estate in Zambia to employ women in roles long reserved for men, including operating tractors and heavy equipment.

The Craft

Washed for Clarity, Roasted to City+

Pickers deliver ripe cherry to the mill within hours of harvest. The fruit is pulped, fermented in tanks for 16 to 24 hours depending on the weather, then washed clean and dried on patios and raised tables. This fully washed method strips away the fruit early, leaving a cup that reads clean and transparent. The estate's natural and honey lots have taken first and second in Zambia's Taste of Harvest competition, a sign of how carefully the mill is run. If you want to compare approaches, read our guide to washed and natural processing methods.

We roast this coffee to City+, a level that holds the bright top notes in place while letting the chocolate and spice underneath fill in. It stops short of anything roasty, so the origin character leads.

TangerineCaramelPeachLime BodyMedium AcidityBright The Cup

Citrus Lift Over a Sweet Base

The first sip opens with tangerine and lime, a clean citric brightness that gives the coffee its lift. Underneath sits a steady sweetness, caramel turning toward ripe peach as the cup cools. The body stays medium and rounded, with a gentle spice note closing things out. Balanced and easy to return to, with enough complexity to reward attention.

Find Your Fix

The citric brightness and clean structure make this a natural for pour-over. Reach for a V60, Chemex, or Beehouse to spotlight the tangerine and lime; drip works well for everyday cups, and Aeropress concentrates the sweetness. Browse the rest of our coffee beans and find your fix.

Roasted in small batches at our Virginia Beach roastery.

Packaged in reusable glass mason jars, returned locally for reuse. Solar-roasted.

Virginia Beach, VA