SUMATRA Gayo Aceh

ABOUT THE PRODUCER:

 High in the Northern Gayo Mountains of Sumatra, 760 smallholder farmers nurture tiny plots of coffee, on average just 1.5 hectares each, hidden like secret gardens in the dense tropical forest. These farmers are part of the Gayo Arabika Mahkota Indonesia (GARMINDO) cooperative, a community built on resilience, tradition, and shared passion for coffee. GARMINDO was founded in 2008 by Sakdan, a second-generation coffee producer who, alongside his brothers, carries forward his family’s farming legacy. Their Bergandal Farm and Mill not only processes their own harvest but also acts as a hub for neighbors, ensuring local producers can thrive together. At the heart of their operation still hums a remarkable piece of history, a wet-hulling machine installed in the 1970s, powered by its original Mitsubishi truck engine. Nearly 50 years later, it’s a living echo of the Japanese influence that first brought the Giling Basah process to Sumatra.

ABOUT THE PROCESS:

This honey-processed lot is all about patience and precision. Ripe cherries are carefully hand-picked, floated for quality, and fermented in airtight containers for up to three days. After washing to remove sticky mucilage, the coffee is laid out under the sun until it reaches that perfect 13% moisture. Finally, it’s hulled, graded, and hand-sorted, every step done with intention to highlight the coffee’s vibrant character in your cup.