Brand Coffee Farm, from Uganda
Juan Cañas
Brand Coffee Farm is a regenerative Canephora (Robusta) coffee farm in Uganda, founded by Jim and supported by The Coffee Quest since 2017. Located in a region known for commodity Robusta, Brand Farm is a model for environmental stewardship, social impact, and specialty processing. The farm produces high‑quality Canephora through a circular, agroecological design that strengthens the land, the community, and the final cup.
The farm’s layout integrates multiple regenerative practices. Grass barriers planted along contour lines slow water runoff and prevent erosion. Mulching covers the soil to manage heat and reduce evaporation. Local and organic pest control methods keep berry borers and stem borers in check without synthetic chemicals. Fungus hotels promote forest fungi that help prevent leaf rust. Cattle process green waste, and their dung is used for fertilization and pest control. Agroforestry brings shade from macadamia trees and adds vanilla as a secondary crop. Beehives support pollination—critical because Canephora does not self‑pollinate like Arabica. These choices reduce the need for external inputs and build long‑term soil health.
Social Impact and Knowledge Sharing
Brand Farm actively combats child labour by providing income‑generating opportunities for young adults and training for farmers. No child labour is allowed on the farm. Knowledge is shared with cooperative members from UCFA cooperatives Kanseera and Kitenga. Through programs like the “Future Proof Coffee Uganda Program” by MVO Netherlands, Brand Farm and The Coffee Quest have documented measurable social and environmental impact. The farm serves as a training hub for regenerative techniques, from organic pest control to post‑harvest handling.
The relationship began before the farm even produced coffee. In 2017, Jim helped The Coffee Quest with plans for building a clean, socially progressive specialty coffee factory in Colombia. When Jim launched his Uganda project, The Coffee Quest traveled there in 2021 to explore the regenerative farm. Since then, the two teams have continuously collaborated on social development, agricultural capacity building, and specialty processing of Canephora.
Innovation in Processing
Unlike most Ugandan Robusta operations—which dry on tarps on the ground, leading to mold and inconsistent quality—Brand Farm has built a washing station, parabolic dryers, and African beds. In 2023, The Coffee Quest’s Co-founder, Michiel, visited to conduct hands‑on experiments: selective picking training, floatation, sorting, anaerobic and co‑fermentation trials, and moisture control. The result is a growing library of experimental microlots, including spice co‑fermentations that highlight Canephora’s natural richness.
Now that Brand Farm is in full production since the crop of 2025, we are looking forward to going back and continuing our work in the community with Jim and his very special group of people. We welcome coffee roasters that enjoy Jim’s coffee to join us on our journeys to Uganda and experience the joys and challenges of Canephora farming—and Central Uganda rural life—for themselves. Get in touch to talk Canephora with our accounts team, or directly with Michiel, at any time.
We have worked with Brand Coffee Farm since 2021, and we are excited to continue growing this relationship. Together, we are proving that Robusta can be grown regeneratively, processed with precision, and shared transparently.
More from Brand Coffee Farm and Uganda
Coffee With Added Value
At The Coffee Quest, transparency is key—If you have any questions regarding our coffees, do not hesitate to reach out! We also encourage you to review our Impact Report for an in-depth look at our sustainable sourcing practices and projects.
