Paradise Roasters - Sumatra Danau Toba

Origin: Sumatra
Region: Danau Toba region of northern Sumatra
Altitude: 1200 meters
Processing Method: Hand-Picked, semi-washed, sun-dried
Variety: Bourbon

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Sumatran Coffee:

Sumatran coffees are some of the smoothest and most complex coffees in the world, with rich flavor, very full body and a vibrant, low-key acidity. Beans from Sumatra also have a distinct appearance - when green, they are often asymmetrical in shape and have a deep aquamarine tint. Beginning in the 18th Century when the popularity of Sumatran coffee rose significantly, the unique shape and hue helped European merchants recognize authentic Sumatran coffee beans.

However, Sumatran coffee’s distinct flavor and appearance isn’t the only factor contributing to the coffee’s uniqueness. The unusual drying techniques employed by Sumatran coffee farmers also contribute to the coffee’s distinctiveness. These techniques involve an extended period of the coffee bean’s exposure to the pulp of the berry after the berry has been harvested—a process which is believed to produce deeper tones in the brewed coffee.

The Sumatra Arabica crop season usually starts in Oct. Shipment dates from November through May. Coffee connoisseurs who want to buy Sumatran coffee typically look for aged Sumatran green coffee beans. These coffee beans enhance the earthy and spicy notes of regular Sumatran coffee, making it one of the most sought after coffees available. The coffee is scored by defects in the cup, not physical defects of the green coffee. So a fairly ugly-looking green coffee can technically be called Grade 1 Mandheling.

The majority of Sumatran coffee is marked Mandheling or Lintong and is grown in the inland mountain regions, mostly in the northern regions of Aceh (Takengon, Sidikalang, Tapanuli, etc.) as well as in the Lake Toba region (Lintong Nihuta, Sumbul) to the south of Medan. Sumatra coffee grown in the northern region is usually marked Gayo Mountain. Mandheling is not a region - the coffee is named after the Mandailing people of northern Sumatra - Mandheling is an older Dutch spelling of Mandailing. Lintong on the other hand, is named after the Lintong district, also located in North Sumatra.

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Region and Farms:

The Paradise Sumatra is grown and produced in the area surrounding the Danau Toba Lake in northern Sumatra at an average elevation of 1200 meters above sea level. This area has a nice volcanic soil and ideal rainfall around Sumatra's volcanic Lake Toba - the largest volcanic lake and one of the deepest in the world. Danau Toba was once an active volcano until it violently exploded around 70,000 years ago in what is thought to be the largest volcanic eruption of the past 25 million years. Today Danau Toba is a popular tourist destination owing to its spectacular natural beauty. It is in the fertile highlands surrounding this lake that much of the Arabica coffee commonly traded as Sumatra Mandehling comes from. Southwest of the lake are the towns of Lintong Nihuta and Dolok Sanggul. Coffees from nearby these towns tend to be the best in Sumatra. Paradise's Sumatra Danau Toba represents the best of coffees from these premier growing regions. This coffee, along with our Sumatra Lake Tawar and Aged Lintong, is carefully picked, handled, processed, and sorted to a degree far surpassing all other coffees from this region. All of this careful attention certainly shows in the cup.

This coffee is selectively picked by small-scale farmers, who for generations have known and appreciated the importance of cultivating quality. Careful depulping and concrete patio sundrying are utilized before transporting to Volcafe's mill in Lampung.

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