Indonesia - Sumatra Mandheling

Indonesia – Gayo Highlands

Origin Details

• Location: Bener Meriah Regency, Northern Sumatra

• Altitude: 1100–1400 masl

• Varietal: Tim Tim (a Catimor selection common in Sumatra)

• Process: Giling Basah (Wet Hulled)

• Cup Profile: Grapefruit, plum, tamarind, dark chocolate, black pepper

Producer & Origin Story

This organic coffee comes from around 400 smallholder farmers cultivating roughly 450 hectares of land in the Gayo Highlands near Tingkem. The Gayo Highlands are world-renowned for their unique growing conditions—fertile volcanic soils, tropical climate, and high elevation—all contributing to the region’s distinctive, full-bodied flavour profile.

The coffee is exported by PT Orion Gandatama Perkasa, founded in 2016, which works primarily in Northern Sumatra’s Toba region and the Gayo Highlands. Orion operates a state-of-the-art dry mill in Medan as well as wet and dry mills in the Gayo Highlands themselves, ensuring traceability and quality from farm to export. Their mission centers on sustainability and strengthening farmer relationships through fair practices and training.

Farming & Processing Practices

• Farm Structure: Coffee is grown on small, family-owned farms averaging 0.5 to 2 hectares each. Farmers operate within cooperatives, which provide training, resources, and stronger access to international markets.

• Soil & Climate: The coffee thrives in volcanic loam soils (sand, silt, and clay mix), which, combined with the region’s altitude and climate, produces a rich, layered profile.

• Organic Practices: All farms are certified organic. Farmers receive training in tree management, pesticide control, soil conservation, and harvesting techniques to maintain both quality and environmental health.

• Processing Method – Giling Basah:

  • Fermentation: Cherries undergo around 12 hours of fermentation.

  • Initial Drying: Beans are dried to 35–40% moisture before hulling.

  • Hulling: Performed while the beans still retain higher-than-normal moisture, a hallmark of Sumatra’s wet-hulled (Giling Basah) style.

  • Further Drying: Reduced to 15–18% moisture before transport.

  • Final Drying: Finished to 13% moisture at Orion’s dry mill in Medan.

  • Storage: Packed in GrainPro-lined bags for freshness and safe shipping.

Quality & Cup Characteristics

• Flavour Profile: A classic Gayo cup with grapefruit brightness, plum sweetness, and a tangy tamarind edge, rounded by dark chocolate depth and a touch of black pepper spice.

• Body: Distinctively rich and full-bodied, with the characteristic smoky-earthy depth of Sumatran coffees, balanced by vibrant fruit notes.

• Strengths: Bold, layered flavors that hold up beautifully across espresso, immersion brews, and traditional filter methods.

Why This Coffee Stands Out

• Unique Processing: The Giling Basah method, unique to Sumatra, gives this coffee its signature earthy richness and heavy body.

• Community-Driven Production: Sourced from hundreds of smallholder farmers working in cooperative structures, ensuring fair livelihood and sustainable growth.

• Sustainability Commitment: Certified organic, with farmer training programs focused on long-term environmental health.

• Complex Cup: A dynamic profile—fruity yet spicy, sweet yet earthy—that captures the essence of Northern Sumatra’s terroir.