As a country, Indonesia is a world leader in coffee production. In 2014, it came as the fourth largest coffee producer worldwide. Islands like Java, Sumbawa, and Flores are world-renowned for the quality coffee they produce. So, what about Sumatra? The best Sumatra coffee comes from here, the most western island in Indonesia. If you enjoy an intense cup of coffee with a tropical hint, you will love Sumatra coffee!
Let's find out more about the journey of Sumatra coffee beans and look at why on earth everyone is talking about cat poop!
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Sumatra Coffee Growing and Processing Methods
The region of Sumatra is able to produce coffee almost all year round. This is great news for the farmers, who don't have to rely on a seasonal income. Sumatra produces Arabica coffee and the climatic conditions have a direct impact on its unusual taste.
The coffee plants are grown without shade and no chemicals are used. Small plots of farms are spread over flat clay land. The product can taste uneven and the beans may even taste dirty. The earthy flavor of Sumatra coffee often comes from the dried clay.
Sumatra coffee beans are "triple-picked". This means that they go through three sorting processes to be checked for defects. As a result, the consumer gets consistency. Sumatra has a very wet climate, so many farmers choose not to dry the beans.
The coffee is usually processed using the wet-hulling method (also called "Giling Basah".) This method enhances the moisture content in the coffee. Most coffee beans have a moisture content of 11%, compared to a 50% moisture content for wet-hulled beans.
The process generates a flavor that can be floral and mushroom-like. It also transforms the green coffee beans into a dark hue. A dark roast builds on the body and the richness of the bean.
Worldwide, wet-hulling is not usually the preferred processing method as it presents a risk. During the process, the bean is wet and unprotected. Most farmers would never expose their green bean to a drying patio without the protective layer.
Different Types of Sumatra Coffee
We know it's from Indonesia, but exactly where is Sumatra coffee from? Well, the taste and processing methods of your cup of coffee depend on the climate and region. Here are some of the more well-known variations.
Lintong coffee
Lintong coffee is grown next to a huge lake in Lintong Nihuta. It's one of the deepest lakes in the world and the climate provides lush growing conditions. As a result, the area is able to produce 15,000 to 18,000 tons of Arabica coffee every year!
Mandheling Coffee
Coffee produced by the Mandailing people comes from the north of Sumatra. It provides a truly luxurious-tasting coffee, with syrupy notes of caramel and chocolate.
Aceh Coffee
The most northern tip of Sumatra produces Aceh, an Arabica coffee bean. Generally, farmers avoid artificial chemicals but always grow the plants in shade.
Most Aceh coffee originates from a large mill by Takengon. The coffee is wet-processed by international standards and is certified organic Sumatra coffee. If you buy Aceh coffee from a specialty store in North America, it probably comes from here.
Gayo Coffee
Gayo beans are processed are little differently to some other Sumatra coffee varieties. They are semi-dry processed. Farmers remove the outer skin and then sun-dry the coffee fruit.
This coffee is grown under shade and often has a lighter body than some other varieties.
Kopi Luwak Coffee
This variation is arguably the best Sumatra coffee that money can buy. If you have enough money to buy it, that is! It is a rare coffee and is the most expensive in the world.
This is an infamous, gourmet coffee bean. It comes from cherries that have been digested by small animals - and then excreted. The small animal is an expert coffee picker, choosing to eat only the ripest cherries. Its natural enzymes ferment the beans, a little like the manual wet-processing done by farmers!
What does Kopi Luwak have to do with cat poop?
I think it's about time we talked some more about Kopi Luwak, also known as cat poop coffee! It's the most expensive and most rare coffee all over the world. It's processed in a unique way, so many consumers are wary of drinking a cup.
The animal that eats the coffee cherries is the Asian Palm Civet. Once it has chosen the fruit that it likes best, the cat poops it out and the harvester can begin processing.
In the cat's stomach, enzymes react with the coffee beans and create certain acids. This gives the coffee its individual aromas and flavors - a combination you can't find anywhere else! The process keeps the bitterness of coffee low.
Many coffee brewers believe that the cats (civets) only choose the best berries, and they market the coffee this way. The digestive system of the civet is supposed to also improve the flavor.
Although Sumatra produces the most cat poop coffee in the world, there are also some of the coffee farms in the Philippines and Vietnam.
Would you be put off by cat poop coffee? Why not give it a go! Join the VIPs and celebrities over the world that are splashing out on Kopi Luwak!
What Does Sumatra Coffee Taste Like?
Sumatra coffee embodies a complex mix of flavors. It is such a unique cup of coffee, so what can we expect when we take a sip? This simple Sumatra coffee review will cover details like taste, aroma, and body.
Some of the points seem to almost contradict each other. Sumatra coffee has such an unusual and rich flavor. This may vary depending on the part of the island it comes from and the way it is processed. Love it or hate it, there's really nothing else like it!
- Sweet and smooth flavor
- Sometimes, the flavor can be so sweet it becomes citrusy
- Balanced, but intense body
- Earthy notes, with hints of tobacco, cocoa, and smoke
- Low acidity
- Spicy and wild
- To enhance the floral taste, the coffee is often roasted darker
Where you can Buy the Best Sumatra Coffee
As with all whole bean coffee, the best Sumatra coffee is freshly roasted. Sometimes when you buy coffee, it has been sitting on the shelf for months. This gives it a tasteless, stale and flat flavor. Always buy whole bean coffee with a roasting date, so you know it's fresh.
You can often buy Sumatra coffee as a high-quality blend and even the best Sumatra beans are available at a fair price.
The Bottom Line
The coffee is so unique in the world coffee market and that's mostly down to climate and processing methods. From wet-hulling to cat digestive systems, these processes impact the unique taste of the drink.
Have you ever tried Sumatra Coffee? I'd love to know what you think! Most tasters either love or hate the coffee and it's rare to fall in the middle.
