Sumatra coffee is a type of coffee made from Arabica coffee beans that are grown in the Sumatra region of Indonesia. Sumatran coffee was first brought to the island nation by the Dutch during their rule over the Portuguese.
Continue reading on to learn more about the history of Sumatran coffee, the flavor profile of the drink, and some recommendations for Sumatran coffee brands.
What is Sumatra Coffee
Sumatra is a vast Indonesian-governed island where the Sumatran coffee bean is grown. With a population of nearly 50 million people, it is the largest island in Indonesia and the sixth-largest in the world.
The island’s temperate environment gives some of the best coffee growing conditions in the world. Warm temperatures and near-constant rain, on the other hand, prevent farmers from entirely drying out the beans. As a result, they created a processing procedure known as wet hulling, which imparts a distinct flavor to the beans.
These factors combine to make Sumatran coffee beans among the most cherished and highly sought beans in the world.
History of Sumatra Coffee
For hundreds of years, coffee cultivation has been vital to Indonesia. The Dutch introduced the crop in 1699 after discovering that the growing conditions in the country were perfect for harvesting coffee.
You have probably heard coffee alluded to as Java. This is because Java was one of the main islands used by the Dutch to grow coffee. Following the discovery of how successfully coffee adapted to Java, production swiftly increased and expanded to many other locations in the region, such as Sumatra.
The Dutch subsequently sent all or most of the roasted coffee back to Europe, where it sold for a premium price and established the coffee trade routes between Europe and Indonesia. The Dutch East India Trading Company transported the first coffee to Europe in 1711. By 1717, over 2000 pounds of coffee were shipped across the world.
The Rise of Indonesia’s Coffee Legacy
Aside from Arabia and Ethiopia, Indonesia was the first country where coffee was widely grown. The wonderful and complex aromas of Indonesian coffee, particularly Sumatran coffee, were swiftly adopted by Europeans. This established Indonesia as a global coffee production superpower.
After a few hundred years, Indonesia is now the world’s fourth-largest producer of coffee. Coffee cultivation is important to the country’s economy, with over 2 million subsistence farmers involved in the industry. Arabica accounts for around 25% of all coffee shipped, with significant export markets including the United States, Western Europe, and Japan.
What Does Sumatra Coffee Taste Like?
Because of Indonesia’s unique mix of tropical and dry regions, it is an ideal climate for growing coffee. The coffee beans cultivated in every area of the island are noted for their enormous array of character and flavor.
The unique flavor of beans grown in Indonesia reflects the places where they are grown. For example, the same kind of Arabica plant planted in Sumatra may produce a vastly different crop than plants grown in the Java or Sulawesi regions. The primary components that significantly contribute to the one-of-a-kind cup are the nutrients in the soil and the climate conditions of the Island.
Giling Basah is a one-of-a-kind method of processing Sumatran coffee beans. The beans have a rich concentrated flavor because of this approach, complete with a small dusting of herbs and spices. This procedure also hulls the parchment off the beans at a high moisture level of 50%, which is far greater than the average 11-15% seen in other locations. Because of this one-of-a-kind and unusual procedure, Sumatran beans have a distinct flavor profile, and green beans have a distinct hue.
Sumatra coffee embodies the essence of this tropical Indonesian island’s wild rainforest. Sumatran coffee is sweet and creamy, with hints of butterscotch and spice. Sumatran coffee green coffee beans are a gorgeous deep teal color with a jade appearance before roasting.
Sumatra Coffee Bean Blends to Try
Due to the explosive popularity of these coffee beans, you can find many different brands of Sumatra coffee at your local coffee shop or on your grocery store aisles. Here are five brands that have harvested and created a unique blend of Sumatra coffee that is worth trying if you like the flavor profiles.
Volcanica Sumatra Mandheling Coffee
Sumatra Mandheling Coffee is a rare Indonesian coffee grown on volcanic soils that has a thick, heavy body, low acidity, unusual flavor, sticky aftertaste, and earthy richness. Volcanica Coffee is an exotic coffee merchant committed to offering only the highest quality coffee from volcanic locations across the world that is both visually beautiful and delicious.
Starbucks Sumatra Dark Roast
This peppery coffee, like the beautiful Indonesian island where it was born, stands out, as do its processing methods. It has a rich body, notes of dried herbs and fresh soil, a silky mouthfeel, and almost no acidity in the coffee.
The Starbucks Sumatra Single-Origin uses beans from the Asia-Pacific region. The most popular coffees in this region are those with strong and distinct flavors that cannot be found anyplace else in the world.
The Sumatra Dark Roast from Starbucks is also one of the most readily available Sumatra coffees around the world. Starbucks sells this blend in both whole bean and ground bags so be sure to pick up a bag the next time you find yourself at the grocery store.
Camano Island Coffee Roasters – Organic Sumatra Dark Roast
With a rich scent, a full-body, and a notably vibrant, low-key acidity, the Organic Sumatra Coffee from Camano Island Coffee Roasters is one of the greatest in the world. This Sumatra coffee has a rich and nuanced flavor profile that is fruity, smooth, and full-bodied. Their Sumatra contains the least natural caffeine.
Because of its low caffeine content, this earthy and smoky coffee is ideal for an after-dinner treat. Rich and delicate fruit tones, nutty, smooth, and full-bodied. This coffee is good at any time of day or night, but it is especially delicious as a dessert coffee.
While Camano Island’s Organic Sumatra is one of the best Sumatra blends, be prepared to pay a premium for this coffee. Small bags from this brand start at around $25 and go up from there. This is not an everyday coffee blend.
Hi, I’m Jen Williams, chief editor and writer for ThirstPerk.com.
I’ve been drinking coffee and tea for most of my life, but it wasn’t until I started working at Thirstperk.com that I became an expert on the subject. I’m a total caffeine addict who has spent hours upon hours reading about and experimenting with the different types of coffees out there in my search to find the perfect cup of joe.
I’ve been a tea lover for as long as I can remember as well. I grew up in a house with a mom who loved to drink herbal tea, and I think that’s where my love for tea first began. These days, I’m always on the lookout for new and interesting teas to try, and I love experimenting with different brewing methods and flavoring combinations.