October/November, 2008

Sulawesi Bukit Rantepao

Indonesia – our closest neighbor, a great place to holiday, a history that is interlinked with the Dutch; all very good reasons as to why we returned here this month. This time, however, a little further north to the island of Sulawesi.

The area around the town of Rantepao is known for producing some of Sulawesi’s best coffee; mainly Toraja just to the north. Having ideal conditions for coffee production, the plantations are above 1100 meters and are often on small farms. The ability to plant the bushes amongst fruit trees means that the subsequent farming of coffee is a sustainable one, but also the bean seems to have absorbed some of the attributes of the fruit surrounding it.

Upon opening the sack we came to the conclusion that sometimes we really can’t judge a coffee by its green form. Thought to be the first cousin to the coffee of Sumatra, this bean certainly presents itself in an understated way. Having quite a dull green (almost musty yellow) appearance, the coffee demonstrates some of the original aspects used by the farmers to process the coffee – a combination of wet and dry process. Basically taking on a look of a coffee far below its actual grade.

Similar to our Kintamani and Sumatran coffees, we decided that the best way to handle this bean would be to take it to the limit of the 1st crack, just into the 2nd. This allows the coffee to reach its full potential in flavour, without disrupting the intricate/delicate aspects that could easily be missed.

What’s it like to drink? That depends on who you ask…. buttery mouth feel, rich, bold, earthy, spicy, nutty & sweet; we could actually go on. On first taste it appeared that we just had a coffee low in acidity, with a full flavour. Then we realized that there were many layers to it, allowing you to analyse and enjoy the whole cup.

While having the subtleties to entice the connoisseurs amongst you, this coffee also delivers a flavour punch that the rest of us can enjoy. Be sure to get your bag before we drink it all!!

ENJOY!

The Koffee Dude