17 September 2026

Spring Proteus (#55): A Journey Through Timor-Leste

If you’ve received your parcel today, you’re holding the newest release in our Proteus series. It’s a five-day extended anaerobic natural from Timor-Leste. It’s as delicious in the cup as it is meaningful for the families behind it.

The Producer Behind the Beans

Orijem Timor grows and processes this coffee. They’re the producer behind the beans that make up Twobie favourites Juggernaut, Atlas and Sabertooth. Every Proteus release gives us a chance to shine a light on the people creating positive change in the industry.

Supporting Farmers, Lifting Yields

The team works with over 1,000 smallholder farming partners across Timor-Leste. They deliver hands-on training to help rehabilitate ageing plantations and lift yields. Farmers learn specialist pruning, organic fertilisation, pest control and soil health techniques through village demonstration plots. Orijem Timor pays them premium prices for the quality they produce, turning better farming practice directly into better household income.

Investing in Women

Coffee hasn’t always made space for women. Orijem Timor is changing that. They’ve built structured training and mentorship pathways to help women move into leadership and operational roles across the business.

Solar Power, Lower Emissions

Their washing station now runs entirely on solar power. The Australian Government’s Business Partnerships Platform supports this project, backing initiatives like this one to strengthen ties with our neighbours across the Indo-Pacific. The switch has moved the wet mill off diesel generators entirely. It cuts emissions and gives the facility a more reliable power source.

Closing the Loop

The processing facility also treats its own wastewater to protect local water sources. Byproducts like coffee pulp and husks become organic fertiliser and biochar. Orijem Timor returns these to farmers to nourish their soil without synthetic chemicals.

Sharing the Wins

When success comes, Orijem Timor shares it. They donate any prize money straight back to the villages the coffee is sourced from. This funding supports essential infrastructure like community halls and a nursing station for visiting midwives.

What Makes This Process Different

To understand what makes this coffee so distinctive, it helps to know a little about how the team processed it. Once pickers hand-select the ripest cherries, they seal them inside an airtight tank for five days, beyond the typical fermentation window. Locking the cherries away from oxygen changes how naturally occurring microorganisms break down the fruit’s sugars. This slows the process down and draws out flavour. The result is a unique coffee with intense flavours and a smooth, round body.

Tasting Notes

We’ve tempered our Spring Proteus so it doesn’t get lost under milk, making a delicious flat white or latte. But if you want to taste it at its most expressive, try it black. The flavour opens with creamy lime, like a scoop of citrus ice cream or a cold milkshake. Underneath sits a bright, sweet citric acidity, reminiscent of a sour lolly.

Head to your nearest Twobie or the online shop to stock up on this limited release.