When it comes to specialty coffee, there is a rich history behind every new crop from origins across the globe, whether we are aware of it or not. The story behind our newest offering from the province of Aceh, Sumatra is no exception, and we’re happy to share what we’ve learned about it. The story begins with a man named Asman Arianto, originally a native of the city of Palembang in Southern Sumatra, Asman decided to make his home in Aceh Tengah in 1998. Not long after relocating to the Aceh province, Asman began working in the coffee industry, eventually becoming a local expert in processing wet-hulled coffee cherry before diversifying into washed, honey and natural methods. However, in 2013 calamity struck the island of Sumatra with the violent eruption of the Sinabung volcano just south of the Aceh province, and so displaced thousands of locals who had once called the area home. A great number of folks migrated northward to Aceh in search of stability and employment in the various tea and coffee farms that proliferate across this verdant and fertile region. In 2018, Asman utilized his influence and expertise to unite his community by establishing the Ribang Gayo Musara Cooperative. From humble beginnings, this cooperative has made a name for itself in the proceeding six years of operation and now boasts over 350 members. Equity among members is paramount to the success of this cooperative as all of the smallholders are guaranteed a state of the art milling facility, higher prices for their produce, and the training necessary to foster a thriving and resilient farming community. What’s more is that at the end of the harvest season, farmers are paid a profit sharing bonus derived from the proceeds they get from their highest dollar lots of coffee. The cultivars in this naturally processed coffee are as remarkable and diverse as the network of smallholders that produce them, with most members operating on farms averaging between one to six acres. With this coffee we are reminded that collaboration and equity are the cornerstones of creating a sustainable and resilient community, and we’re thankful to have a community of our own to share excellent, world-class coffee with.

This natural processed Sumatran coffee is wild and dynamic, with notes of fresh Rainier Cherry, boozy Port Wine and aromatic baking spice.