In the Cameroonian Grassfields, at 1,500–1,900 metres above sea level, a small family cooperative proves that rarity can become a mark of quality.
The cooperative
Les Hauts de Boyo was founded in 2011 in the Boyo division, in Cameroon’s North-West region. The structure counts 175 producers, a deliberately modest number. The goal is not to produce the most, but to produce the best, keeping fine control over every step.
The cooperative has been chaired since 2020 by Emmanuel Fonkou, an agronomist by training. He took over the presidency after the death of his father, the cooperative’s founder. That family transmission gives the project a particular sense of duty: every lot carries the memory of those who started it.
The terroir
- Region : Grassfields, Boyo division, North-West Cameroon
- Altitude : 1,500 to 1,900 m
- Varieties : Java, improved Typica
- Processes : washed and honey (running side by side, trialled in parallel since 2024)
- Number of producers : 175
The Grassfields offer rolling hills, volcanic soils and cool temperatures thanks to the altitude. Java and improved Typica, two historic arabica varieties, find conditions close to those of their original terroirs. The result is a dense, fruity, lightly spiced coffee.
The coffee’s journey
The harvest takes place between November and February. On the plots, the cherries are carefully sorted, then taken to the cooperative where two processes coexist:
- The washed process, for a clean, tangy cup.
- The honey process, where part of the mucilage stays in contact with the bean during drying, creating a syrupy sweetness and more pronounced red fruit notes.
It is this honey process, trialled in parallel since 2024, that caught Maison Soleil’s attention. Volumes are small — it is the smallest lot in our direct trade programme — but the quality fully justifies that rarity.
After drying, the coffee travels by road to Douala, then ships to Marseille. Thomas Reinach opts for a medium roast, long enough to balance the honey’s residual sugars without masking the spiced notes.
Our partnership
Camille Vasseur met Emmanuel Fonkou at a coffee fair in Douala in 2022. A first container was imported in 2023. The multi-year contract was signed in 2024.
- First container : 2023
- Multi-year contract : signed in 2024
- 2025 volume : 9 tonnes/year (deliberately the smallest volume among our five partners)
Les Hauts de Boyo is mainly reserved for our Prestige subscribers and for the Prestige Gift Set, where the honey process micro-lot finds its natural home.
In the cup
The Cameroon — Les Hauts de Boyo is a limited edition. The honey process version offers a syrupy, almost jammy texture, with a hint of pink pepper on the finish.
- Tasting notes : raspberry, cinnamon, pink pepper
- Intensity : 5 / 10
- Roast : medium
- Certification : direct trade
- Available formats : 250 g and 1 kg (whole bean)
A coffee of patience, for enthusiasts who know that rarity has a taste.