Abundant rainfall, rich volcanic soil, and an equatorial climate are the essential ingredients in the very fine, exotic flavors of Sumatran coffees. Well known in the United States for their rich spicy tones, Sumatran coffees have been wowing U.S. coffee aficionados for years.

In Perspective

Colonization and increasing demand for coffee in Europe initiated the spread of coffee plantings throughout Sumatra in the 18th century. Today, it is grown around Lake Tawar in Aceh and the Lake Toba region. Indonesia is the world’s third largest producer of coffee. But, only 10% of those beans are arabica and an even smaller portion are destined for the specialty coffee market.

A Quality Cup

Often you will see Sumatran coffee sold as Mandaleeing – which is actually an ethnic group and does not specify a specific region or growing altitude. As a result, some Sumatran Mandaleeings have been found to be inconsistent and unrepresentative of a particular region due to sourcing lots from more than one origin. Searching out a single origin Sumatran bean from one growing group – the Gayo Organic Coffee Farming Association (PPKGO) - we are able to continually offer a consistently, high quality Sumatran bean worthy of a designation as a classic Mandaleeing.

Gayo Organic Coffee Farmers Association (PPKGO)

In Sumatra, Central Aceh is known for its rich, earthy balanced coffees with complex aroma. The PPKGO is acclaimed for producing some of the best.

Made up of over 1,600 growers from 32 different communities, the cooperative is made up of 5 different ethnicities: Gayo, Javanese, Acehnese, Padang, and Batak. In a region torn apart from devastating natural disasters and on-going civil war, PPKGO has been a continuous multi-ethnic inspiration as it uses its fair trade coffee premiums to build potable water systems, construct new roads, refurbish mosques, and the establishment of a credit union.

Click here to purchase coffee from this cooperative.