The farm was established in 2018 in Mbala, northern Zambia, by Swiss entrepreneurs. Their ambitious goal is to prove that a climate-smart, socially responsible model can achieve exceptional quality. The vertically integrated farm covers 780 hectares, but only 115 hectares are used for growing high-quality Marsellesa coffee (84.5 Cup Score). Crucially, 600 hectares are dedicated to active reforestation of native Miombo woodland. The farm utilizes solar-powered irrigation and provides year-round employment for over 120 local staff.

The Mount Sunzu Marsellesa lot was a Natural-processed coffee. As part of the vertically integrated operation, processing began with the cherries being selectively picked and floated. The coffee was then dried slowly, taking 30 days on raised beds. Careful protection from rain and overnight moisture was required during this drying period. Once dried, the coffee was transported to Mount Sunzu’s dry mill, where it was processed on-site, involving hulling, grading, hand winnowing, and sorting.

The Marsellesa varietal is a Sarchimor-type coffee hybrid developed for disease resistance to coffee leaf rust. It is a cross between Timor Hybrid 832/2 and Villa Sarchi. This variety was bred by CIRAD-ECOM through pedigree selection in Nicaragua and released in 2009. Marsellesa is a high-yielding, compact plant known for having better cup quality than older Sarchimor hybrids. In addition to Zambia, it can be found in Central and South America, including Guatemala and Nicaragua.

This coffee stood out to us for its unique 'candy cola bottle' tasting notes, we were excited to see if we could bring these notes out in espresso and filter. Cola espresso, yes please, or even a cola cold brew... This was our first experience with both Zambian coffee and the Marsellesa varietal, we approached the roast guided by the Sarchimor lineage which suit a slower approach, but kept development time short due to the natural processing. We ended up with a total roast time of 10 minutes, and a development time of 1:45 seconds. We are delighted with the result, delivering balance and sweetness in espresso and filter brews, preserving the 'candy cola bottle' character that we fell in love with.