Sumatra Mandheling Girsang G1 TP Wet Hulled 2024

Sumatra Unroasted Coffee Beans

Farmers in Sumatra’s Sumbul subdistrict have a long history of producing coffee. Sumbul means “source of spring water” in the Pak-pak language, and the region is named for the many springs that dot the terrain. Multigenerational knowledge of coffee farming is passed down from parents to children, continuing Sumbul’s legacy of distinctive Mandheling coffee that’s celebrated for its rich flavor and aroma.

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 country's humid climate. This distinctive processing technique has become synonymous with Indonesian coffees, imparting a unique cup profile that sets them apart on the cupping table.

In the wet-hulled process, coffee cherries are typically depulped at the farm level using hand-cranked machines. The cherries are then fermented overnight for 12-14 hours to help break down the mucilage, which is subsequently washed off. After fermentation, the coffee is quickly dried to a moisture content of 30-50% before continuing through the supply chain. Finally, it is dried to between 11% and 13% moisture at the exporter’s mill, readying it for market.

How is Coffee Graded in Indonesia

Green coffee from Sumatra is meticulously classified into different grades based on the number of defects found in a 300-gram sample of unroasted coffee. The highest quality, Grade 1 TP (triple-picked), indicates that the beans have been hand-sorted three times, resulting in fewer than five defects per sample. Grade 1 DP (double-picked) denotes coffee that has been sorted twice, with fewer than nine defects per sample. Grade 1 without a TP or DP mark means that the coffee contains fewer than 11 defects per sample. This grading system ensures a consistent range of quality, spanning from grades 1 to 6.

Indonesian Unroasted Coffee Beans

The key Indonesian green coffee regions include Aceh, North Sumatra, South Sulawesi, West Java, Bali, and Flores. Java, in particular, is renowned for its pivotal role in spreading coffee production across the Indonesian archipelago. While regions like Sulawesi and Sumatra boast a long history of coffee cultivation, Bali represents a relatively newer coffee-growing area, primarily known for its small-batch, limited-scale coffee production. For a deeper dive into these regions, explore our Indonesian Coffee Origin Report.