Indonesia is a crucial origin for understanding both the history of coffee in producing countries and the development of coffee culture in Europe and the US, where the word "Java" is often used synonymously with coffee. Coffee arrived in Indonesia with Europeans, and from there the beans spread to South and Central America.
Indonesia is the world's largest archipelago. It consists of five main islands and around thirty smaller groups. In total, there are 17,508 islands and islets, of which more than 6,000 are uninhabited. On all these islands, the land is generally covered by dense tropical rainforests, where the fertile soils are continuously enriched by volcanic eruptions, such as those that occur on the island of Java.
The Indonesian archipelago lies midway between the continents of Asia and Australia. This strategic location has influenced the country's cultural, social, political, and economic life.
One of the stars of Indonesia's coffee scene is the coffee from the island of Flores. However, the island's lack of infrastructure prevents this great coffee from gaining wider international recognition.
THE CAR WASH STATION
Giling Basah Processing
Giling Basah is a term widely used in Indonesia, which literally means "wet threshing." It is a distinctive and unique method of coffee processing, most commonly used on the islands of Sumatra and Sulawesi.
On small farms, each family, after harvesting, and generally using a very rudimentary machine made of wood and nails, separates the cherries from the beans. These beans, still containing mucilage and a little water, are left in a vat overnight, and the next day they are delivered to the processing plants with a very high moisture content. The producers have neither the time nor the facilities to dry the coffee, so they deliver it with a moisture content of around 50%.
The coffee is now ready to be delivered to the respective cooperative or processing plant. The first drying process will begin immediately; at this point, the coffee will have a moisture content of approximately 45 to 50%, and it will be dried on patios or raised beds until it reaches a moisture content of 25 to 30%.
Giling Basah threshing machines are larger and more powerful than standard threshing machines because they need to generate more power and friction to remove the parchment from the still-damp green grain. After threshing, the green grain emerges swollen and with a whitish/bluish color.
For the second time, the bare grain will be dried again, until it reaches a moisture content of 12%.
The final stage of the process is sorting, or what we call Triple Sorting (TS). This stage includes gravity sorting, size sorting, and hand sorting.
THE GRAINS
Origin: Indonesia, Flores-Ngada
Roast: Espresso
Washing Station: UPH Wongawali
Altitude: 1,600 meters above sea level
Variety: Typica
Benefit: Giling Basah
Washed tasting notes: Coffee with sweet notes reminiscent of honey. Lactic, slightly chocolatey, and with yellow fruit on the palate. Excellent body and a fine acidity.
THE IMPORTER
Based in London, Indochina Coffee works directly with producers in Southeast Asia to supply their beans to roasters in the UK and Europe.
Shirani, co-founder of Indochina Coffee, is of Filipino and Sri Lankan descent. This inspired her to delve deeper into coffee production in Asia, leading her to become a Q Grader. We met her at the last in-person edition of the London Coffee Festival. This encounter opened up a whole new world for us. New origins to share with you! Enjoy two fabulous lots: one washed and one natural.
THE RECIPE
We offer these guidelines to help you develop a recipe, but keep in mind that it may vary depending on the machine, mill, and water you use.*
Washing:
IN 18 grams of coffee
OUT 35 grams per cup
Time of 25 seconds.
Coffee boiler temperature 93ºC,
Water pump pressure 9 bar
*La Marzocco, Linea PB
*Victoria Arduino, Mythos One
*Osmosis water, 110 ppm
