Description
Tanah Karo Green Beans are one of North Sumatra’s most characterful Arabica offerings, valued for a deep, savoury complexity and the unmistakable heavy body that defines great Sumatran coffee. Grown on the fertile volcanic slopes of the Karo Highlands, especially around Berastagi, Kabanjahe and the villages ringing Mount Sinabung, these beans thrive in mineral-rich soils fed by active volcanic activity. Ideal temperatures of 18–28°C and generous rainfall between 1,500–2,500 mm produce a dense, flavour-loaded bean that roasters reach for when they want depth, weight and a true sense of place.
A key feature of Tanah Karo is the traditional wet-hulled process, known locally as Giling Basah the signature method of Sumatra. Here the cherries are depulped and briefly fermented, then hulled while the beans still carry a high moisture content, before finishing their drying without the parchment layer. This early hulling is exactly what gives Sumatran coffee its hallmark: a bluish-green bean, a muted acidity and a powerful, earthy body with herbal and cedar depth. It is a rustic, hands-on process passed down through generations of Karo smallholders, and it is inseparable from the region’s identity in the cup.
This processing gives Tanah Karo Green Coffee Beans a bold, grounding flavour profile. Expect a savoury, earthy aroma with herbal and woody notes, a rich flavour of dark chocolate, cedar and tobacco, and a low, mellow acidity that keeps the cup smooth and heavy. The body is full, syrupy and long, supported by spice, herbal and dark-chocolate undertones. With cupping scores of 82–86, these beans consistently meet speciality-grade expectations while offering the deep, weighty character that anchors both single origins and premium blends, performing best at medium to dark roast levels.
For roasters, speciality cafés and private-label brands seeking a bold, unmistakably Indonesian profile with real backbone, Tanah Karo Green Beans deliver earthy depth, a heavy body and dependable speciality grade cup quality. A classic Sumatran choice for adding weight and soul to any offering.
Specifications
- Available Products: Green Coffee beans
- Type: Arabica
- Screen Size: 15–18
- Moisture: Max 12%
- Triage: 7–9%
- Defect Value: Max 11
- Cupping Score: 82–86
- Bag Size: 60 KG
- Packaging: GrainPro Liner
- Certifications: Fair Trade, Organic, USDA, Rain Forest Alliance, Halal
Characteristics
- Fragrance/Aroma: Savoury and earthy with herbal, woody notes
- Flavour: Rich and bold, with dark chocolate, cedar and tobacco
- Acidity: Low, mellow
- Body: Full, syrupy, heavy
Description Scheme
- Time from Flowers to Be Berry: 8–9 Months
- Production (Kg/Ha): 800 to 1500
- Optimal Temperature: 18 to 28°C
- Optimal Rainfall: 1500 to 2500 mm
- Altitude: 1200 to 1600 from Sea Level (asl)
- Soil Type: Fertile volcanic soil rich in micronutrients
- Country of Origin: Indonesia
- Production Areas: North Sumatra – Karo Highlands (Berastagi, Kabanjahe, Barusjahe, Simpang Empat, Mount Sinabung slopes); also Dairi and Toba highlands
- Caffeine Content: 0.8 to 1.4%
- Form of Seeds: Flat with a clear central line
- Character Stew: Low mellow acidity, dark chocolate, cedar, herbal spice, with a heavy syrupy body
- Method of Harvest: Manual selective harvesting
- Processing Method: Wet-Hulled (Giling Basah)
