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Sulawesi Coffee Bean Guide: Karosi, Toraja and Java Variety Coffee

November 25, 2016
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How Does Sulawesi Compare With Java Variety Coffee?

Sulawesi is a key coffee region in eastern Indonesia, mountainous and averaging over 500 meters in elevation. Its Karosi beans belong to the Sumatra Typica variety, are large and plump, and are semi-washed, giving a rich, mellow cup with low acidity and a light herbal note. Toraja, at about 1,200 meters, is the most representative source.

Sulawesi accounts for only about 7 percent of Indonesia's national production, yet demand is strong and supply often falls short. Farmers dry the cherries in the sun until semi-dry, then add water and grind them into a paste, a method that leaves a herbal plant aroma. Java variety coffee offers a useful comparison for drinkers exploring Indonesian origins.

Sulawesi is an important coffee-producing region in eastern Indonesia, made up of four peninsulas, with the highest proportion of mountainous terrain in the country and an average elevation of over 500 meters. The island's Kalos coffee beans belong to the Sumatra Typica variety, are large and plump, and are processed using the semi-washed method, yielding a rich, mellow flavor with low acidity and a hint of herbal notes. The Toraja producing region is located in the high mountain area slightly southwest of the island's center, at an elevation of about 1,200 meters, and is the region's most representative coffee source. Sulawesi coffee accounts for only 7% of Indonesia's national production, but market demand is strong, and supply often falls short of demand. The Celebes Kalossi coffee that Front Street recommends paying attention to is a typical representative of this producing region.

Front Street Sulawesi Coffee Bean Flavor Description, Taste, Variety, Producing Region, and Processing Method Introduction

Because of the mutual compression of tectonic plates, the average elevation of the entire island of Sulawesi is above 500 meters. The island is located in eastern Indonesia and is administratively divided into two provinces, North Sulawesi and South Sulawesi. Local farmers first place the harvested coffee cherries in the sun to dry until semi-dry, then add water and grind them into a paste. Coffee produced through this method carries a herbal plant aroma. Sulawesi coffee is also widely recognized for its rich layers of flavor and complex mouthfeel, and it is a precious coffee category in strong market demand. Although Sulawesi's coffee production accounts for only 7% of Indonesia's total national output, market enthusiasm for it is extremely high, so supply often falls short of demand.

The large-bean "Kalossii" coffee produced in Sulawesi belongs to the Sumatra Typica Varietal and is processed using the Semi-washed process. The beans are plump, and the taste is very rich and mellow. The coffee's acidity is relatively low, and its flavor is quite close to the famous Sigri of New Guinea. Among the many brands, it is worth trying Celebes Kalossi coffee. Varieties such as "Toraja" produced in the Telaga area of the southwestern mountainous zone (elevation 1,200 meters) are representative examples.

Sulawesi (Celebe, formerly translated as "Celebes") is located in eastern Indonesia and is a vast island. The island's outline is very distinctive, extending outward in four peninsulas to the north, northeast, southeast, and south. The island is densely covered with high mountains and deep valleys, with few plains, making it the island in Indonesia with the largest proportion of mountainous terrain. The Toraja producing region on Sulawesi is relatively well known. The Toraja producing region is located in the central-southwestern part of Sulawesi, belongs to a mountainous zone, and has an elevation of about 1,200 meters. It can be seen that the other two famous producing regions, Sumatra and Java, are located to the left of Sulawesi. The Kalos coffee beans produced in Sulawesi are a variant of Sumatra Typica and have relatively large beans. The large Kalos coffee beans have a plump appearance and are suitable for deep roasting to the second crack. After roasting, the taste still continues the richness of Indonesian Mandheling. The large, plump raw coffee beans appear smooth after expansion, with a rich and mellow taste, low acidity, and a faint herbal flavor.

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

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