Here at Zach and Dani's we're proud to offer these rare high-quality arabica coffee beans from Indonesia. Read on to learn more about Java, Sumatra Mandheling, and Sulawesi Toraja Indonesian coffee beans.

Java from Java ... Really!

As recently as the 1950s, all Indonesian coffee was sold as Java, even though only a small percentage of it actually came from the island of Java. Today genuine Javanese coffees are undergoing a revival, in large part because of increased demand from gourmet restaurants and specialty coffee shops.

Java offers pure body with deeper toned flavors, like freshly roasted nuts with hints of black pepper. Compared to the classic flavor of the Sumatras, Java doesn't offer the same level of earthiness. But its simpler, more straightforward flavor makes it great for blends. In fact, it's used in our popular Mocha Java blend.

Sumatra: Oh-So Delicious and Down to Earth

Sumatra, Indonesia's second largest island, is home to one of the country's other great arabica coffees. These celebrated arabica coffee beans (marked Mandheling or Lintong) have been described as "contemplative" with tantalizing hints of wood smoke, crushed autumn leaves, and wild mushrooms. Very earthy and exotic!

Home roasters love to experiment with Sumatra coffee beans by roasting them at different temperatures to bring out a range of earthy tones. Sumatra coffee beans also blend well with all types of coffee, adding delicious character and body.

Sulawesi Toraja

From its delectable spicy aroma to its smooth, sweet finish, coffees from the Indonesian island of Sulawesi are delicious. The body of Sulawesi coffee is so rich and heavy it is almost syrupy. Sulawesi Toraja coffee not only has great body, it is full of complexity as well. Its undertones are earthy, rich and spicy. The flavor of Sulawesi coffee may be thought of as similar to the very popular Sumatra coffee, except that it achieves a much higher level of complexity and is significantly more rare. Sulawesi coffees, like Sumatran coffees, carry milk very well and for that reason are ideal breakfast or dessert coffees.

The island of Sulawesi (formerly known as Celebes) is a spider-shaped volcanic island in Indonesia. It is situated on the crossroads of historical and strategic sea lanes, with trade occurring in its midst for centuries. The capital and chief trading port of the Province, Ujung Pandang, is still the gateway to eastern Indonesia. Sulawesi is also famous for its tremendous scenery and the quality and talent of its silk and silver work industries. However, its economy is largely based on agriculture.

Indonesian coffee production on Sulawesi has been going on for hundreds of years. The Dutch planted the first arabica coffee trees in Indonesia during the 17th century. Since then Sulawesi’s coffees have been developed into some of the most sought after coffees in the world.

Sulawesi has ideal conditions for coffee production with ample rainfall and fertile tropical volcanic soil. The Toraja region of Sulawesi produces some of the best coffee beans on the island. Sulawesi Toraja coffee is double picked to remove any imperfections and insure quality in the green raw coffee and therefore consistency in flavor when ultimately enjoyed in the cup.

Growing Seasons

Indonesia is a land of microclimates, so the Indonesian coffee beans' growing and harvesting seasons vary depending on the location of the farm. Located in Southeast Asia, Indonesia sits on a string of more than 13,500 islands that run along the equator. Some of these islands include volcanic mountains that provide the ideal growing conditions for coffee beans. And because these volcanoes are active, they continually replenish the nutrients in the soil.

Indonesian coffee beans are widely considered to be among the most organic coffee on earth ... not by design, but by default. Small family farms (most average less than three acres) have traditionally adhered to organic farming methods as a matter of economics because they can't afford fertilizers, pesticides, or pricey organic certifications fees.