Sumatra - Asman Gayo Mill





Sumatra - Asman Gayo Mill
Country: Sumatra
Region: Pantan Musara, Aceh
Farm: Asman Gayo Mill
Variety: Ateng, Bor Bor, Catimor, and Timor
Proc. Method: Natural
Altitude: 1300-1650 masl
This coffee comes from a small mill in the Pegasing district of Takengon, in Sumatra's coffee-famous Aceh region. The mill serves several small coffee producers within the Pantan Musara villages; several years ago, these producers were dislocated from their homes and land because of a natural disaster, and they have rebuilt their lives and farms with a new focus on coffee. Unlike the vast majority of other Sumatran coffee receiving and processing centers, this mill is producing Washed coffees, as well as Naturals.
Microlots from Sumatra are most commonly traceable to the mill level, but occasionally traceable to the producer. Because of the generally small size of farms in Sumatra, most produers' coffee is blended together with that of other smallholders. Microlot coffees not only have more traceability than those blended lots, but also achieve the highest quality and are rewarded with the highest prices.
Aceh, in northern Sumatra, is an incredible region for coffee production. The average farm is one hectare, 80% of producers within northern Sumatra are women, and 95% of producers are smallholders. The region is diverse, geographically speaking. It is surrounded by beaches with a swampy inland, and the Barisan Mountains make up the inner two-thirds of the area. Coffee is grown on this volcanic mountain amongst the rainforest. One of the notable features of this area is Lake Taboa, the largest volcanic lake in the world.
Coffee is delivered to the mill by producers in the area, and only fresh red cherries will be purchased. Naturals are spread into a drying house or on raised tables to dry.