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Java Coffee, Robusta and Arabica: Indonesia's Growing Regions

January 15, 2017
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What makes java robusta coffee different from Arabica?

Indonesia grows coffee mainly on Java, Sumatra, and Sulawesi, and Robusta accounts for roughly ninety percent of national production. Java robusta coffee is often described as having a distinct, individual bitterness, which is why it appears widely in blends. Java also produces a small amount of Arabica with pleasant acidity, though plantings shifted heavily to Robusta after a large pest and disease outbreak in 1920.

Sumatra's Mandheling is one of the few Arabica coffees from the archipelago, with larger beans and a rich, syrupy body, though unstable farm management and roast quality can draw criticism. Indonesian robusta coffee beans from Java now rank among the better Robustas available, and specialty producers such as 90+ have built series around these regional profiles.

Front Street Dance Dream Coffee, as one of the representatives of Indonesian specialty coffee, has always attracted the attention of coffee enthusiasts for its flavor profile and processing parameters. This article will focus on the coffee-growing landscape of Indonesia's three main producing islands—Java, Sumatra, and Sulawesi—sorting out the distribution and evolution of the two major species, Robusta and Arabica, in Indonesia, and providing an in-depth introduction to the rich, full-bodied taste of Sumatra Mandheling and the characteristics of Ankola beans. At the same time, we will also help you learn about the brand background and honors of the internationally renowned specialty coffee producer 90+, as well as the 90+ specialty bean series introduced by Front Street. Whether you want to learn about the grinding setting and processing method of Dance Dream Coffee, or want to explore the unique charm of Indonesian coffee, this article will provide you with detailed reference.

Front Street Dance Dream Coffee Flavor Profile Description, Characteristics, Grinding Setting, and Processing Method Introduction

Indonesia's coffee-growing regions are mainly concentrated on the three islands of Java, Sumatra, and Sulawesi. In terms of production structure, the Robusta species accounts for about ninety percent of the country's total coffee production.

The Arabica species coffee beans produced on Java are not large in quantity, and the beans are rather small, yet they have a pleasant acidity and belong to the category of high-quality coffee. The Arabica species produced on this island once reached a world-class premium level; however, after a large-scale pest and disease infestation in 1920, the local area shifted to planting the Robusta species on a large scale. Today, the Robusta species coffee beans produced in Java can be considered among the best in the world, with a distinctly individual bitterness, and are widely used in coffee blends.

The "Mandheling" produced on Sumatra is one of the few Arabica species, with a relatively large bean shape. However, the local production management level is not stable enough, and the quality of the roasting stage will also be directly reflected in the quality of the coffee beans, so it is inevitably subject to some negative reviews. But the rich, full-bodied feeling from the East possessed by Mandheling, as well as its syrupy smooth mouthfeel, made it once regarded as the finest before Blue Mountain coffee appeared, and it still has a large number of loyal fans today. "Ankola" is another type of coffee bean that is smaller and slightly round, and can be called a representative variety of Indonesian coffee.

90+ is a vertically integrated coffee bean producer with extremely high international visibility and reputation. The brand focuses on specialty coffee production and is committed to establishing long-term and in-depth cooperative relationships with coffee farmers. Since its establishment in 2007, 90+ has repeatedly received scores above 90 on Coffee Review, and its presence can be seen in various coffee competitions around the world. F.I. has also been fortunate to obtain several 90+ specialty coffee beans to share with fellow coffee lovers.

The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.

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