Kerinci

Cup Profile:
Apple, Citrus Fruit, Cherry & Brown Sugar.
 
Farmer - Koerintji Barokah Bersama Cooperative
Farm - Koerintji Barokah Bersama Cooperative 
Location - Gunung Tujuh, Kerinci, Sumatra
Varietal - Andung Sari, Sigarar Utang
Process - Fully Washed
Altitude - 1400 - 1700 MASL
Cup Score - 86.5
 
We chase exceptional harvests across the globe and often have the opportunity to experience some amazing coffee. Farmers pushing the boundaries of their traditional processing methods to eek ever more subtle flavours out of these tiny seeds.
 
The 320 members of the Koerintji Barokah Bersama Cooperative live and farm on a plateau that sits at the foot of Mount Kerinci on the island of Sumatra. Mount Kerinci is one of the many volcanoes in the Pacific Ring of Fire, a 40,000-kilometre horseshoe-shaped series of 452 volcanoes that are part of an almost constant dance of eruptions and plate movements.
 
Mount Kerinci’s historic eruptions have assured that the surrounding area is lush and verdant with a deep supply of fertile volcanic soil. The cooperative is managed by Triyono, who leads members in processing and roasting their own coffees. They have a fully outfitted roasting facility, including a cupping lab, next to the dry mill. This is especially impressive considering the cooperative was founded in mid-2017.
 
Almost all farms on Sumatra are small. On average, farms are between 0.5 to 2.5 hectares. Coffee is usually the primary cash crop for farmers, but most also intercrop their trees alongside vegetables, potatoes and fruit. This intercropped produce will make up a substantial part of the family’s diet for the year. 
 
In addition to growing coffee as a cash crop, many smallholder farmers also work as hired labourers at nearby tea plantations. Like coffee, tea is a huge cash crop in the area. The bigger tea plantations are often near coffee farms. When the harvest is finished, coffee farmers will go there and pick leaves under contracted labour.
 
There are many more initiatives by farmers on Sumatra to organize themselves into cooperatives. In the past, farmers did not have much leverage to get better prices for their cherry or parchment. In cooperatives, they can share resources, organise training and negotiate better prices.
 
During the harvest season, coffee is handpicked. Usually, most labour is supplied by the immediate family. After picking, the coffee will be delivered to a UPH collection centre. A UPH is a collection centre where coffee cherries are purchased by the cooperative and where the coffee is processed before moving it to the central mill. 
 
Essentially, a UPH functions as a small washing station. Triyono oversees the activities on and around nine UPH stations owned by the cooperative.
 
To streamline the operation, there is an agriculturalist providing technical assistance to make sure the same, standard procedures are used to process each cherry at each of the different stations. Each UPH is located in a different area and receives cherries from different farmer groups.
 
Indonesia is known for its unique ‘Wet Hulled’ Process (Giling Basah). Tryiono and his team are expanding Indonesia’s coffee processing traditions.  With this Fully washed lot, the coffee is pulped and then left to ferment overnight in buckets. It is washed the next day and agitated to remove the mucilage.
 
The coffee is first dried on patios. Afterward, it is transferred to raised beds. The beds are located in domes to protect the coffee from rain or harsh sunlight. When dry, the coffee is milled and sorted by hand. 
 
Members of the coop have a fixed buyer for their cherries, and at the end of the year, the coop invests its profits in either infrastructure to increase quality, or shares them as quality premiums with the member producers. 
 
Farmers also receive technical support and seedlings for shade trees to plant on and around their farms. To join the coop, a producer pays a one-time membership fee of around 400 dollars (5 million rupiahs). 
 
Hand roasted in tiny batches from various origins. Single origin speciality coffee with amazing flavours.
 
Whilst we recommend you purchasing whole bean coffee and grinding it yourself as you use it. We can also offer ground coffee for specific brewing methods. Please select the origin of your coffee and brewing method or whole bean preference.
 
This coffee will only be offered as part of our roasters choice subscription service. It will not be for general release
 
Coffee will be roasted on Mondays to order. Your roasted coffee will be posted by Royal Mail after a period of degassing. or you could opt to collect from us.
 
We will notify you when your coffee has been shipped or is ready for collection.