Recommended preparation: filter & espresso
Tasting notes: candy, cocoa, spices
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Sumatra |
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1,500 - 1,700 m. |
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Abbysinia, typica |
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60h natural carbonic maceration |
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Hendra Maulizar |
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2022 Harvest |
Carbonic maceration coffee from Indonesia
Sumatra is an Indonesian island located in the western part of the country. It is the sixth largest island in the world and has a population of over 50 million people.
This beautiful island is known for its rich biodiversity and stunning landscapes. Now, it's also becoming known for its coffee.
Until recently, Sumatran coffee was primarily of the robusta variety. Recently, some producers have begun growing Arabica coffee and have experimented with different processes, with excellent results, such as this carbonic maceration coffee.
Hendra Maulizar: a young producer
Hendra Maulizar is a pioneer and leader on the island of Sumatra in advanced processing systems. His father, Hamdan, moved to Aceh province in 2006 and began growing coffee.
Following his father's example, Hendra began growing coffee in 2010. He started with just one hectare of land and now cultivates up to ten hectares. Together with his father, he has also established a washing station to monitor the entire production process.
In addition, Hendra and his family have invested in post-harvest facilities, building a wet mill, gravity-fed washing channels, and raised beds for drying the coffee.
Hendra is a coffee farmer passionate about his craft. He has worked hard to improve the quality of his coffee and invested in facilities to improve harvesting and processing. As a result, he has produced some of the best coffees in the region. This 60-hour carbonic maceration coffee is an excellent example.
Coffee on the island of Sumatra
Sumatra is divided into three main growing regions: Aceh in the north, the Lake Toba region in the south, and the southern part of the island around Mangkuraja. These regions are known for producing some of Indonesia's finest coffee.
The northern province of Aceh is known for producing high-quality coffee. Hendra's farm is located between 1,500 and 1,700 meters above sea level, one of the highest altitudes in Indonesia.
The climate in Indonesia, as well as on the island of Sumatra, is hot and humid. But at the altitude where Hendra's farm is located, the temperature is milder and the humidity is lower. This, combined with the volcanic soil unique to this region, makes it an ideal location for coffee cultivation and for special processes such as carbonic maceration.
Variety and processing with carbonic maceration
This 60-hour carbonic maceration coffee produced by Hendra Maulizar and his team is an excellent representation of the quality and diversity that the Sumatra region offers.
This coffee lot is a blend of two different varietals, Abbysinia and Typica. The coffee is hand-picked and carefully and meticulously processed to ensure only the finest beans make it into the final product.
The natural carbonic maceration process used to produce this coffee is one of the most innovative methods used in the coffee industry today. 
This process involves injecting CO2 into an airtight container filled with coffee cherries and allowing them to ferment for 60 hours. The CO2-rich environment helps create ideal conditions for fermentation, resulting in a unique and complex flavor profile.
The coffee is then dried on raised beds for 14 to 20 days before being moved to a patio to complete the drying process.
Carbonic maceration modulates the flavor of the beans, accentuating sweet and fruity notes. We can expect notes of candy, cocoa, and spices.
Specialty coffee as a way of life
Hendra Maulizar and his father are an example of how specialty coffee can be a valid and worthy way of life in producing countries.
When coffee growers are allowed to focus on the quality of their coffees, rather than quantity, they can obtain better coffees and higher incomes. One of the key points is being able to experiment with different processing methods, such as carbonic maceration.
Drinking specialty coffee is the responsible way to consume coffee.
