This is a unique Indonesian coffee produced by around 771 farming families located in Jagong Jeget, in central Aceh province, located at the northwest tip of the Sumatran Island. Farmers that cultivate this coffee are organised around the Gayo Lauser Antara Cooperative, a recent initiative founded in 2015.
The co-operative was formed because of a strong desire to improve the welfare of members towards a more decent life. With the best quality coffee produced by members, the co-operative seeks to improve the economic conditions of members.
Jagong Jeget, where this coffee grows, is a sub-district in the district of central Aceh, Aceh province, which has a population of less then 10,000 people. This area is part of the territory transmigration where 70% of the citizens come from the island of Java and 30% with various ethnic groups, Gayo, Acehnese, and Malay.
Almost 90% of the population, depend on agriculture and in particular Arabica coffee for their livelihood. Jajang Jeget sub-district has altitudes between 1400-1600 m.a.s.l and fertile volcanic soils creating the perfect climate for arabica coffee.
The types of coffee planted by members of the Gayo Lauser Antara co-operative are the Linie S, Bourbon, S-288 and Catimor varieties.
The greater region of Aceh is the source of what were once called “Mandheling” coffees, though that term is used more as a marketing concept than a true region when applied to coffee at present. Aceh is sometimes referred to as Gayo or Gayoland, a reference to the Gayonese population one of the ethnicities that live in the area.
The process – wet-hulled
Only the ripest and reddest cherries are hand-picked by farmer members. After pulping, the cherries are soaked for 8 hours, before being fermented for another 8 hours. The coffee is dried on a parachute until the skin is dry, the coffee is still moist when peeled. The beans are then laid to dry again in the sun until they have reached a moisture content of 13%. The coffee is then hand-sorted to take out any imperfect beans.
May 20, 2022
