Tanzania Kibo Chagga Coffee
Tasting Notes
Plum, raspberry, soft red apple acidity and a smooth chocolate finishOrigin
TanzaniaRegion
KilimanjaroAltitude
1,200mProcess
WashedRecommended brew method
The Coffee
Tanzania Kibo Chagga is undoubtedly a H.R. Higgins signature and has been a well-loved part of our range for many years.
Just after the Second World War, Harold Higgins tasted, almost by chance, a coffee which seemed to him to have tremendous possibilities. An East African Chagga coffee with a kinship in flavour with Colombia coffees from South America, which were unavailable at the time.
He discovered the beans were grown by African farmers on the slopes of Kilimanjaro and began a quest to source this unique coffee. Thwarted by the closed shop wholesale system of his regular sources he journeyed to Moshi at the foot of Mt Kilimanjaro to meet the farmers.
Absconding from an organised trip to Nairobi he boarded a local bus to be welcomed by the farmers, indigenous Chagga people, and became the first coffee merchant in London to buy directly from African farmers, a relationship which still stands to this day.
While profiling this new crop of Tanzania Kibo Chagga, our head roaster, along with David Higgins has experimented with many roast variations in order to find its best characteristics as we know how special this coffee is.
Ultimately they found it was at its best when medium roasted, therefore we have made the decision to only offer one roast rather than two like previously, as we believe that this highlights all the hard work that the farmers do without compromise.
Roasted medium, you will enjoy notes of Plum and raspberry with a soft red apple acidity and a smooth chocolate finish.
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From Honduran Highlands to Your Cup
In Marcala, Honduras, coffee is not just grown — it’s lived. What began with sixty-nine farmers determined to protect their land has grown into COMSA, a cooperative of more than 1,200 members whose work reaches from the mountainside to the classroom. Their coffee carries with it not only the flavour of the highlands, but the promise of a stronger, more hopeful community.
How Roast Level Shapes the Character of Coffee
The journey from green bean to finished coffee is shaped by countless decisions, but none more influential than roast level. This single factor determines whether a coffee is lively and bright, smooth and balanced, or bold and intense. At H.R.Higgins, we roast with purpose, tailoring each profile to bring out the finest qualities in the bean. Here’s how each roast style creates its own distinct experience in the cup.
