The Coffee Journal
Blog
Origin stories, grading guides and export know-how, straight from the coffee farms of Sumatra.
48 articles2 topicsUpdated 9 Nov 2026
Green Coffee Defects: Types, Causes and How They’re Graded
Green coffee defects are the flawed beans and foreign matter that end up in a sack of coffee: black beans, sour beans, insect-damaged beans, broken pieces, bits of husk, even…
Gayo vs Mandheling: How Sumatra’s Two Famous Arabicas Compare
Gayo vs Mandheling is one of the most common comparisons roasters make when they buy Sumatran coffee. Both are Arabicas from the highlands of northern Sumatra, both are usually wet…
Wet Hulled Coffee (Giling Basah): The Process Behind Sumatra’s Flavor
Wet hulled coffee is the reason Sumatran coffee tastes like nothing else. Known in Indonesia as giling basah, and often sold as "semi-washed," it's a way of processing coffee where…
Lintong Coffee: North Sumatra’s Lake Toba Arabica
Lintong coffee comes from a high plateau just southwest of Lake Toba, the giant volcanic lake at the heart of North Sumatra. It's one of Sumatra's classic Arabicas, sharing the…
Sumatra Coffee Varieties: Ateng, Tim Tim, Sigarar Utang & More
Sumatra coffee varieties are one of the least understood parts of the island's coffee story. Buyers usually talk about Sumatran coffee by region, such as Mandheling, Gayo or Lintong, but…
Sumatra Coffee Harvest Season: A Buyer’s Calendar
Sumatra coffee harvest season timing matters more than many buyers expect. Buy too late in the year and you may end up with tired, past-crop beans; buy at the right…
FOB vs CIF vs CFR: Shipping Terms for Green Coffee Buyers
Every green coffee offer comes with three or four letters attached to the price: FOB, CFR or CIF. They look like small print, but they decide who pays for shipping,…
Sumatra Robusta: Sidikalang Coffee Origin, Taste & Uses
When people talk about Sumatran coffee, they usually mean Arabica: Mandheling, Gayo, Lintong. But Sumatra robusta has a story of its own, and in North Sumatra, one name stands out…
Sumatra Coffee: Regions, Flavor & How to Buy It
Few coffee origins have a reputation as strong, or as distinctive, as Sumatra coffee. Say "Sumatra" to a roaster and they'll picture a heavy, syrupy cup with low acidity and…
Indonesian Coffee Grades Explained: Grade 1, TP, DP & More
Look at any offer sheet for Indonesian green coffee and you'll see labels like "Grade 1 TP," "Grade 1 DP," "Grade 4" or "Asalan." To someone new to Indonesian coffee…
How to Import Coffee from Indonesia: A Buyer’s Guide
If you roast Sumatran, Javanese or Sulawesi coffee, there's a good chance you've thought about buying it straight from the source. Choosing to import coffee from Indonesia directly can mean…
Gayo Coffee: Origin, Taste, Varieties & How to Buy It
High in the mountains of Aceh, at the northern tip of Sumatra, farmers have been growing Gayo coffee for more than a century. It's one of Indonesia's most respected Arabicas:…
