Indonesia Arabica Sumatra Kopi Luwak Grade 1

Spot: List & Beisler Büro
Quantity Available: 33 bags of 1kg
SKU
103493-1525
More Information
Unit of Measure bags of 1kg
Status Spot
Warehouse List & Beisler Büro
Bag Type Small Unit Pack
Crop 23/24
Batch 103493
Region Sumatra
Process luwak
Grade Grade 1

Coffee cultivation in Indonesia holds a 300 year old story which has been significantly influenced by colonization. Consisting of more than 18,000 islands, only around ten major islands emerged as Indonesian coffee producing regions. Approx. 92% of the coffee production is in the hands of small producers using traditional techniques.

The island Sumatra lies in the very west of Indonesia. Lake Toba is located in the north of Indonesia’s largest island. This lake not only measures 100 km in length, but also 550 m in depth. Nestled amidst the mighty mountain range of Bukit Barisan, several volcanos nourish the soil and contribute to verdant jungles. The cooperative producing this very special coffee, KSU Rahmat Kinara, has been running their operation since 2007. Initially they were about 200 farmers. Slowly but consistently they have grown, reaching up to 750 farmers and covering an area of about 1,200 ha. Knowing of the advantages, the farmers pursued already early on to become Rainforest Alliance and Fairtrade certified. They achieved this goal in 2010 and 2013.

The farms are located in Central Aceh and are surrounded by natural forests. These forests are the natural habitat of the Luwaks (civet). Thanks to the certifications it is prohibited to catch or cage Luwaks and other animals. The mostly nocturnal animals move freely through the farms eating coffee cherries. During harvest, farmers work on their farms intensively, picking red, ripe cherries but also collecting the feces of the Luwaks containing the coffee parchment after having been digested. The feces go through a thorough cleaning process before the parchment is finally dried and prepared for shipping.

Around 17,000 islands make up the Republic of Indonesia. They stretch over more than 5,000 kilometers along the equator. Naturally, landscapes and cultures vary from region to region. There are Indian, Arabic, Chinese and European influences to Indonesia's identity and a broad spread of religious beliefs. Nevertheless, Indonesia is often held as an example of peaceful co-existence and tolerance despite divergent lifestyles. As diverse as the Indonesian people is Indonesian coffee. Flavors differ significantly from island to island. Exploring them can truly turn into an exciting and adventurous activity.

Coffee cultivation in Indonesia holds a 300-year-old history. Today, Indonesia is said to be one of the top five coffee-exporting countries in the world. Out of the roughly 17,000 islands, only about a handful emerged as major Indonesian coffee-producing regions. Among the better-known ones are Sumatra, Sulawesi, Java, but also smaller islands such as Bali and Flores. Approx. 92% of the coffee production is in the hands of small producers using traditional techniques such as the semi-washed processing technique called "giling basah". "Giling basah" literally means "wet grinding" and hints at the major difference to the (fully) washed process.

After mechanically de-pulping the cherries, the beans are dried for a day. Next, the mucilage is washed off, leaving the parchment to dry. Here comes the essential difference: the parchment is only dried to 30-35% moisture content and immediately hulled in this "semi-dry" status. Usually, the parchment remains onto the beans until shortly before shipping. Now the hulled beans are set out to dry until they reach their desired moisture level of 11-12%.

As a result of this semi-washed process, the beans shimmer bluish and only have little acidity. They tend to have a full body and strong, spicy notes such as earthiness, tobacco, and herbs. However, due to the scattered smallholder structure and their autonomous processing, sourcing a homogenous coffee can sometimes result in a true challenge.

 

CONTINENTAsia
COFFEE REGIONSSumatra, Java, Sulawesi, Flores, Bali
COFFEE ALTITUDES900 – 1,800 masl.
VARIETIESTypica (and derivatives), Tim Tim, Ateng, Onan, Ganjang, S795, Ateng
HARVEST PERIODSep – Dec (Sumatra), Jul – Sep (Java), May – Nov (Sulawesi), May – Sep (Flores), May – Oct (Bali)
COFFEE FARMSSmallholders and plantations
AVERAGE FARM SIZE0.5 – 5.5 ha
YEARLY PRODUCTION (IN 60KG BAGS)11,433,000
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