ASMAN GAYO

The Farm

The Asman Gayo mill serves several small coffee producers within the Pantan Musara villages. Several years ago, these producers were dislocated from their homes and land because of a natural disaster, and they have rebuilt their lives and farms with a new focus on coffee. Unlike the vast majority of other Sumatran coffee receiving and processing centers, this mill is producing Washed coffees, as well as Naturals. Although this offering is not traceable to specific varieties, it is likely comprised of the most common varieties grown in Sumatra, which are Ateng, Bor Bor, Catimor, and Timor hybrids.

Aceh, in northern Sumatra, is an incredible region for coffee production. The average farm is one hectare, 80% of producers within northern Sumatra are women, and 95% of producers are smallholders. The region is diverse, geographically speaking. It is surrounded by beaches with a swampy inland, and the Barisan Mountains make up the inner two-thirds of the area. Coffee is grown on this volcanic mountain amongst the rainforest. One of the notable features of this area is Lake Taboa, the largest volcanic lake in the world.

The Process

Historically, Indonesian coffee producers have implemented the wet hull method but recent years we have witnessed a shift towards modern specialty techniques which deliver exciting new profiles. This lot was naturally processed, with whole cherries placed on covered beds in greenhouses.