Sulawesi Toraja G1 Wet Hulled 2024

Sulawesi Green Coffee Beans

Sulawesi is one of the main islands in Indonesia, where the Dutch East Indies Trading Company introduced coffee in the 1700s. Back then, the island was known by its Dutch colonial name of Celebes, which is why coffee from Sulawesi is sometimes referred to as Celebes coffee.

The heart of Sulawesi coffee production is in the highlands of Tana Toraja, where mountain slopes reaching elevations of up to 2000 meters are home to predominantly smallholder farmers. The soil is mildly acidic, and temperatures fluctuate greatly between day and night, with a wet and humid microclimate.

Much of the coffee in Sulawesi is grown wildly, conveniently planted wherever trees can fit and is distinguished by its full-bodied richness and earthiness. This Sulawesi green coffee features flavorful notes of pipe tobacco and plum, coupled with savory characteristics and a medium acidity for a deeply satisfying cup profile.

Catimor and S-795 Coffee Varieties

Catimor, a cross between Caturra and the Timor hybrid, is a disease-resistant cultivar widely grown throughout Southeast Asia. Subsequent lines that emerged from Catimor are known locally in Indonesia as Adungsari.

The S-795 cultivar, also known as Jember, is one of the earliest varieties to show resistance to leaf rust, a plant disease that caused a devastating epidemic in Indonesia in the late 19th century. The variety is also known for its sweetness.

Wet-Hulled Coffee Process (Giling Basah)

The wet-hulled coffee process, locally known as Giling Basah, is the method of choice in Indonesia due to the humid climate. The wet-hulled process has become synonymous with Indonesian coffees and contributes to its unique cup profile.

In the wet-hulled process, coffee cherries are generally depulped at the farm level using hand-cranked machines. The cherries are then fermented overnight to help break down the mucilage, which is subsequently washed off. Afterwards, the coffee is quick-dried to 30-50% moisture and dried to between 11%-13% as it makes its way through the supply chain into an exporter’s mill.

How is Coffee Graded in Indonesia

Green coffee from Sumatra is classified into different grades depending on the number of defects present in an unroasted coffee sample of 300 grams. The highest, Grade 1 TP, signifies that the coffee was triple-picked, referring to how many times the beans were hand-sorted, and less than five defects were found per sample. Similarly, Grade 1 DP (double-picked) signifies less than nine defects were present in the sample. For a Grade 1 Indonesia green coffee without a TP or DP mark, less than 11 defects were found per sample. The grading system spans grades 1 to 6.

Indonesian Unroasted Coffee Beans

The key Indonesian green coffee regions are Aceh, North Sumatra, South Sulawesi, West Java, Bali, and Flores. Green coffee from Java is exceptionally well-known for its role in disseminating Indonesian coffee production throughout the archipelago. In contrast to the long history of coffee from regions like Sulawesi and Sumatra, green coffee from Bali, a relatively newer coffee region in Indonesia, mainly produces small-batch, limited-scale coffee quantities. Learn more in our Indonesian Coffee Origin Report.