It turns out that most of the quality coffee in Indonesia comes from Sumatra. Sumatran coffee was first planted in the highlands around Lake Toba, North Sumatra around 1884. Then in the Gayo highlands, Aceh.

Air factors, altitude and volcanic soil structure affect the complex, heavy and strong flavor of Sumatran coffee.

Since then my love for coffee has grown. I like to try coffee from other regions, but I always come back to Sumatran coffee. My first love...

The wet hulling process commonly used by local farmers brings out the "earthy" taste in Sumatran coffee and reduces the sour taste of the coffee beans. This process is more coarse and random than the washing methods popular in Latin America.  

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Starbucks buys Sumatran coffee in bulk and roasts it slightly darker to use as a base in their espresso blends. This may have given birth to the idea of a 'Sumatra Roast' which is darker than usual." (reported from coffeechronicler.com)
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The famous type of Sumatran coffee

1. Aceh Gayo Coffee.
The area in Aceh that is most popular for producing coffee is the Gayo highlands, precisely in Takengon. This first coffee plantation is located at an altitude of 1,250 meters above sea level making it a suitable location for growing Arabica coffee.

This Arabica coffee from the Gayo highlands has been known to the world because it has a distinctive aroma and enjoyment. When cupping or testing the taste and aroma, Gayo coffee has the taste of coffee from almost all over the world.

40 percent of premium Arabica coffee beans from the total coffee harvest in Indonesia are produced from the Aceh region. 

2. Sidikalang Coffee.
Sidikalang coffee comes from the city of Sidikalang, the capital of Dairi district, North Sumatra. Sidikalang is located at an altitude of 1,066 meters above sea level. The combination of cold weather and soil type in the Bukit Barisan area, according to coffee experts, gives Sidikalang coffee a distinctive taste. The enjoyment of this coffee is said to rival Brazilian coffee, one of the best coffees in the world.

3. Besemah Coffee.
The majority of Besemah Coffee is a type of Robusta that grows in the highlands around the slopes of Mount Dempo, Pagaralam city in South Sumatra.

Local coffee farmers say that Pagaralam coffee was one of Queen Yuliana's favorite coffees during the Dutch era.

There is also Besemah coffee originating from the Muara Enim Regency area, commonly called Semendo Coffee. Robusta Semendo is denser and thicker in texture, the flavor is more chocolatey and slightly spiced.

4. Lampung Coffee.
The type of coffee that is cultivated in the Lampung area is Robusta type. The climate, geographical location, and fertile soil conditions affect the taste of this coffee. Planted on land 600 meters above sea level, giving it a distinctive taste. As much as 70 percent of Robusta coffee in Indonesia comes from the Lampung area.


The various choices of Sumatran coffee with their respective characteristics can be an alternative mood booster or a "friend" to accompany staying up late.

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