Indonesia Mandheling

115,00 kr

Mandheling is a name traditionally used for Arabica coffees from northern Sumatra, Indonesia, and originates from the Mandailing people of the region.

This coffee comes from the Gayo Highlands of Aceh in northern Sumatra, sourced through the Ketiara Cooperative. The cooperative is led by Ms. Rahmah, whose work has been central to improving both quality and opportunities for the many smallholder farmers she represents. More than seventy percent of Ketiara’s members are women, and the cooperative has become known for its focus on education, sustainable farming practices and community development.

The coffee is processed using the traditional wet-hulled method, a technique strongly associated with Sumatra. After pulping, the parchment is partially dried before the outer layer is removed while still moist. The beans then finish drying under the sun. This approach produces the intense, full-bodied profile that coffee from this region is known for, with deep sweetness, earthy warmth and a distinct rustic character.

"It was important for us to find a partner in Indonesia that shares similar values and that works hard to make a positive impact on the local community. We found that in Ms. Rahmah, the chairwoman and CEO of Ketiara. She is relentless in improving not only the quality of the coffee but also the quality of life for a whole generation of young farmers.

Rahmah has achieved remarkable progress in the traditionally male-dominated Gayonese society. Both she and Ketiara embody a professionalism and dedication to innovation that we deeply admire and connect with. Their tireless efforts to engage young farmers, especially women, are both inspiring and crucial to the community’s growth."

Size:

250 g 500 g 1000 g

Grind:

Whole Beans Filter French Press

Variant

Coffee Details

Origin
Indonesia

Region
Gayo Highlands, Aceh, Sumatra

Producer
Ketiara Cooperative

Varieties
Gayo 1, Gayo 2, Catimor, Caturra, Bourbon, Abyssinia.

Processing
Wet Hulled

Crop Year
2026

Altitude
1200-1650 m.a.s.l.

Roasting Details

Roast level
4 out of 6

Flavour Notes
Spices, Chocolate, Sweet

Roaster
IMF

Batch Size
60 kg

End Temperature
215.0°C

Time
8.25 minutes

About Indonesia

Indonesia has one of the longest coffee histories outside Africa and Arabia. Arabica arrived in Java at the end of the 17th century, and plants grown there became part of the Typica lineage that later spread around the world. Coffee cultivation subsequently expanded across the archipelago, while outbreaks of coffee leaf rust encouraged the introduction of new varieties and, at lower elevations, a major shift towards Robusta. Today, Indonesia produces both Arabica and Robusta, with most coffee grown by smallholder farmers.

Sumatra is especially important for Indonesian Arabica. In the highlands of Aceh, the cool climate and elevations above 1,000 metres provide good conditions for Arabica, and Gayo has developed into one of Indonesia’s best-known specialty coffee origins.

About Gayo 1, Gayo 2, Catimor, Caturra, Bourbon, Abyssinia.

Coffee farms in the Gayo Highlands commonly contain a mixture of varieties rather than a single uniform planting. This reflects generations of farmers selecting plants suited to the local climate alongside the introduction of material from international breeding programmes.

Gayo 1 and Gayo 2 are locally selected Arabica varieties developed from coffee already growing in the Gayo Highlands and officially recognised in Indonesia for their cup quality and tolerance to coffee leaf rust. Catimor represents a more modern part of the mix, combining Caturra with the disease-resistant Timor Hybrid, while Caturra itself is a natural mutation of Bourbon. Older Arabica lineages such as Bourbon and Ethiopian-derived material known locally as Abyssinia add further genetic diversity to the farms.

Indonesia Mandheling

115,00 kr

Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia

Gayo Highlands

Floods and landslides in Aceh

In late November 2025, severe floods and landslides struck northern Sumatra, including the coffee-growing highlands of Aceh where our long-term partner Ketiara is based. The disaster came at one of the worst possible times: right in the middle of the main coffee harvest.

Roads and bridges were destroyed, power and communications disappeared, and entire communities were cut off. Across Sumatra, more than one million people were displaced, while over 1,000 lost their lives. In Aceh Tengah alone, more than 12,000 hectares of coffee farmland were reported damaged.

For Ketiara's members, the impact was immediate. Farmers could not reach their fields, coffee was left unpicked, and some families lost homes, farms and livelihoods.

Ketiara quickly became part of the local emergency response. The cooperative provided food, generators, satellite internet and other essential supplies to affected communities, eventually distributing aid across 35 villages together with local partners and the Indonesian military.

Despite the losses, we have been able to continue buying from Ketiara through their smaller secondary fly crop. We are paying considerably more for the coffee this year, while absorbing part of the increase ourselves.

Our Impact Trade funding for this coffee will also be directed towards the farmers and families most severely affected, providing financial relief and support for rebuilding damaged homes and coffee farms.