Indonesia has now become the biggest coffee producer in the world. Every region of Indonesia has different varieties of coffee. The coffee producing places are Java, East Timor, Sulawesi, Flores, and Bali, etc.
The Indonesian coffee taste is usually quite complex and syrupy having a good amount of acidity. Also, the land that produces coffee makes it quite good by dark roasting. In addition to land, the traditional processing method like wet hulling is known as ‘giling basah’ is also responsible for this.
In this brief Indonesian coffee guide, let us talk about a few regions of the country that are known for producing coffee.
Sumatra
Sumatra produces the most popular varieties of coffee that are produced on this planet. Sumatra offers coffee of low acidity and that also has a complex flavor profile. Most coffee enthusiasts describe Sumatra coffee as creamy, earthy, chocolatey.
There are 2 factors for the Sumatra coffee’s taste:
- The island’s fertile volcanic soil
- The Sumatra coffee process, which is also called wet hulling.
Java
Most of the coffee of Java is grown on 5 government-owned estates:
- Pancoer
- Blawan
- Tugosari
- Jampit
- Kayumas
Java is a well-known coffee that goes through the RW1 process which is a washed coffee process. With this method, you will get the cleaner coffee that will be sweeter in taste as against the earthier flavor that you get from Sumatra. Also, Java coffee is known for full-body, low acidity, and notes of clove, molasses, and figs.
Sulawesi
Sulawesi has 6 different provinces and on South Sulawesi, the majority of this coffee is grown. These farmers utilize mostly the wet-hulling method. Since this place is 6000 feet above the sea level and hence coffee will be cleaner with a smooth finish.
If you compare them with other Indonesian coffees, then you will find Sulawesi will be a bit lighter coffee however, it is still strong enough, with a creamy texture and low acidity.
Flores
Most coffee is grown in Bajawa town, which is at the height of 1,200 – 1,800 meters. Flores has got a rugged terrain because of several active and also inactive volcanoes. Due to ashes came from volcanic eruptions it has created fertile andosols that are perfect soil for the production of organic coffee.
Here farmers utilize a certain wet-hulling process which is combined with this location offers the coffee a little sweet, and milk chocolate taste.
Bali
Bali is known for beautiful beaches, yoga retreats, and coral reefs. This tropical paradise can provide the best coffee in Indonesia. A majority of its coffee is developed in the soil where volcanic ash present in the soil can help for growing very high-quality coffee plants.
Farmers generally use washed process for the coffee beans, which gives coffee here a very strong body without any bitter taste.
East Timor
Farmers here do not use any wet hulling method rather they use the usefully washed method. With this method, it will make the taste of coffee cleaner with a little bit of a more crisp profile. This kind of coffee will perfectly suit those who love Indonesian coffee, but only those having a cleaner aftertaste.
