Edmund Kampung Sinjok Libex

Edmund; Kampung Sinjok, Siburan, Sarawak, Malaysia; Libex; Honey; 2026

Vanilla | Candied Ginseng | Hint of Jackfruit

Sarawak Liberica (Libex) is unique not only for its bold, distinctive cup profile, but also for the context in which it is produced. Much of it comes from indigenous community-based projects in the rainforest regions of Borneo, where smallholders cultivate coffee alongside diverse forest ecosystems. Many such villages are assessable only by boat and are removed from the comfort and convenience of modern living, producing Liberica coffee in time-honoured methods passed down for generations.

The farmer Edmund, who goes by one name, processed this coffee together with Earthlings Coffee of Kuching Malaysia. Founded in 2013, it has been involved in coffee cultivation and post-harvest processing since its early days. Today, it conducts education programs for farmers in Sarawak as well as coffee professionals who are interested to learn about this relatively unfamiliar species.

For the longest time, farmers and coffee professionals in Philippines have argued that their "Liberica" looks and behaves differently from the Malaysian ones, though both are identified to be Liberica scientifically. Indeed, the research of Dr Aaron Davis of Kew Gardens London has published a new genetic study in Nature Plants in August 2025 that has spoken up for them. Liberica, which is gaining popularity for the distinctive flavour of its beans, is actually three species, namely excelsa (C. dewevrei), Liberica coffee (C. liberica), and the lesser-known C. klainei. With this, the number of coffee species in the world increases from 131 to 133. It is official - Philippines has excelsa and Malaysia has liberica, sometimes dubbed as the true liberica. 

Even so, the Liberica grown in Sarawak appears to differ from that found in Peninsular (Western) Malaysia, both in plant characteristics and in cup profile. These differences are currently being studied through ongoing scientific research. Understandably, the differing growing environments of Western and Eastern Malaysia would have produced different Liberica varieties. With the publication of a paper on 15th May 2026 in Nature by Dr Aaron Davis and Dr Kenny Lee, Sarawak Liberica is now officially Libex - a cross of Liberica and Excelsa.

As compared to the familiar Arabica, Liberica develops larger leaves, berries and seeds on a natural height that is around 1.5 times that of Arabica, i.e. 20 m. There is a hook or a point at one end of the seed, a potential roasting weak point that demands carefully roasting to prevent burn. Genetically, a sweeter species of coffee, the honey process promises to impart more intense sweetness in the cup.

Roast Level

We are roasting this coffee light, with a longer trail after the crack at low ROR. The low ROR ensures the most organic and delicate flavours and its intense sweetness are preserved, while the long trail allows sufficient roasting inside the seed to prevent astringency in the cup. 


Brew Level

We are brewing this coffee with V60 using Abaca filter paper, in 2 parts. The grind is finer, around 500um, brewed using 2 temperatures. Following 1:13 ratio, we are brewing 15g of coffee to 200ml of water, as follows:

0th sec - Pour 100g of 96°C water slowly, in 20sec
45th sec - Add another 100g of 86°C water slowing using the same pouring speed
1 min 45th sec - Water drains through and brewing complete

Savouring our world in a cup!
Enjoy!