Indonesian Sumatra Gr. 1 Lintong – Parpea – Wethulled

A beautiful Sumatra coffee, a rare gem.

Wet-hulling, which is unique to Indonesia, creates a unique cup profile that when done properly can be quite stellar. Unfortunately this method is also prone to bean splitting as well as causing difficulties laser sorting due to the color variance of the beans, often leaving it to contain a high defect count, even on a grade 1 coffee. Not this lot, one can tell the work that went into producing this coffee. Hand done defect screening leaving the best of the best to insure a very clean exotic cup.

Lintong Sumatra’s are know for their “spicier” cup tones. Although still fuller bodied cup on the chocolaty/smoky side, they have the added depth of a little herbal spice, a different spin than the African spice note but for a Sumatra fan, a welcome complexity to the flavor profile.

This Sumatra is sourced from family-owned farms organized around an export company called CV. Yudi Putra, located in the Lintong district within the province of North Sumatra on the island of Sumatra, Indonesia.

Yudi Putra is a family-owned export company that operates its own mill and collaborates with farmers to access the international coffee markets.

Tasting Notes: Some of the exotic tones from this cup comes from the awesome bean preparation. Normally Sumatra coffees are very low acidity but many times this is due to inferior processing. In the case of these beans, lighter roast points will show some citric floral character. Like most Sumatra’s, light roast are generally not the way to present the cup, for the roast has not built up (developed) those wonderful chocolaty tones. The acidity and cleanliness this cup shows at the lighter roasts really proves the quality of the beans and enhances the flavors at the fuller roast levels.  A strong medium roast is where this cup shines, a hint of crispness, full bodied, lower acidity with pronounced chocolaty spice notes.

Roasting Notes: Avoid extremes, way too light or way too dark and the cup tones will be off. A nice medium roast erroring towards 2nd crack is best. Light roasts are cool for a Sumatra fan but usually as a 1 cup treat, easy to drink a whole pot when roasted a bit darker. True dark roasts into 2nd crack can be a bit bittersweet, the cup is real smooth and rich until you hit 2nd crack.