Tradition runs deep in the Takengon highlands of the Aceh province, a growing region acclaimed among coffee experts for its cup profiles and classic Indonesian style of coffee cultivation and processing. This lot was cultivated and harvested by members of the Sara Ate Cooperative, which was founded in 2011. The cooperative has more than 500 members with farms that average less than 3 acres in size. Producers belong to the Gayonese ethnic group and maintain a traditional village lifestyle. A large percentage of the producers are women who rely on coffee income to support their families. Each producer carefully sorts their harvested cherries before depulping and fermenting overnight with small micro-mills. Then the coffee is washed and laid out on patios to shed the excess water from the parchment covered beans. Next the coffee takes a detour from the conventional path of processing in other origins, wherein, the coffee parchment is removed while the coffee still has a high moisture content. This wet-hulling process, called Giling Basah in the Indonesian language, leaves the coffee bean exposed while drying on patios to a moisture percentage acceptable for export. This Indonesian processing method gives the bean its unique bluish hue and the hallmark Indonesian profile. With Indonesian coffees, half the battle is overcoming logistical challenges like rugged roads and unpredictable torrents of rain. Sara Ate Cooperative takes on an important role of organizing local warehouses and transportation so farmers can overcome these challenges and swiftly bring the coffee to the international market, ensuring greater earnings from direct trade relationships.
