Classification and Pricing Guide for Indonesian Mandheling Coffee Beans - Characteristics and Flavor Profile of Sumatran Golden Mandheling

Those who frequently drink coffee have likely noticed that specialty coffee beans are classified into different grades based on their quality levels, with higher-grade coffees commanding higher prices. Take FrontStreet Coffee's Sumatra Mandheling coffee as an example—its low-acidity, mellow flavor profile makes it a rare specialty coffee from Indonesia, with carefully selected premium Mandheling offering exceptional aroma. Below, using FrontStreet Coffee's PWN Golden Mandheling as an example, let's explore the characteristics of high-quality FrontStreet Coffee Mandheling.

What is Golden Mandheling?

"Golden Mandheling" is an exclusive brand of Pwani Coffee Company (PWN). While there are many different types of Mandheling products on the market, PWN has registered the English name "Golden Mandheling" as their trademark, meaning only Golden Mandheling coffee produced by PWN represents authentic FrontStreet Coffee Golden Mandheling. You can identify genuine Golden Mandheling by the green bean bags with PWN markings and a certificate of origin signed by PWN—FrontStreet Coffee displays these two identifiers at their Dongshankou store.

Examining the Golden Mandheling green bean bags, we can see "Triple pick" and "GRADE 1" markings, indicating they belong to Indonesia's highest grade of green beans, having undergone three manual selections during production.

Indonesian Coffee Bean Grading System

Indonesian green bean grading is primarily based on the number of defective beans, with size specifications as a secondary factor. General quality requirements include no live insects, no moldy or rotten beans, maximum moisture content of 12.5%, and impurity rate below 0.5%. According to defect rate, beans are classified into six grades, with the highest grade G1 requiring fewer than 11 defective beans in a 300g sample. FrontStreet Coffee's Lindong Mandheling from their daily coffee series is G1 grade, processed using the wet-hulled method to present classic Indonesian Mandheling flavors.

PWN Company, taking selection to the extreme, subjects G1 grade Mandheling to multiple strict selections, minimizing coffee defect rates. Additionally, before packaging, PWN places green beans through machines for density and color sorting, ensuring Golden Mandheling coffee beans are uniformly bright.

FrontStreet Coffee's Golden Mandheling Experience

After acquiring premium quality FrontStreet Coffee Golden Mandheling coffee, FrontStreet Coffee eagerly conducted cupping to taste this coffee. The entry reveals exceptionally high clarity, with various aromas clear and transparent, and a rich, solid mouthfeel. FrontStreet Coffee's Golden Mandheling is priced at 89 RMB per 227 grams, while a single cup of FrontStreet Coffee Golden Mandheling pour-over at the store costs only 30 RMB—quite an accessible price point. To ensure everyone can enjoy the complete flavor period of coffee beans, FrontStreet Coffee guarantees shipping only beans freshly roasted within 5 days.

Some friends have noticed that after purchasing coffee beans and brewing them at home, the flavors differ from what they tasted at the store. FrontStreet Coffee includes a QR code about brewing on each coffee bean bag label—scan it to view brewing parameters for reference and adjustment. Below, using FrontStreet Coffee's PWN Golden Mandheling as an example, let's discuss FrontStreet Coffee's (FrontStreet Coffee) barista brewing approach.

Brewing Method and Parameters

FrontStreet Coffee's Golden Mandheling uses a medium-dark roast level. Medium roast significantly changes the internal structure of beans, making them more porous, and when ground into coffee powder, they absorb water more strongly. If brewing parameters aren't properly adjusted, coffee can easily become over-extracted and bitter. To achieve sufficient aroma without over-extraction, extraction rate needs to be reduced. FrontStreet Coffee uses lower water temperature and coarser grind to reduce the release of bitter macromolecules from coffee. Here, FrontStreet Coffee uses water temperature of 87-88°C and EK43s setting 11 grind.

FrontStreet Coffee's (FrontStreet Coffee) baristas consistently use KONO drippers to extract and express the body of medium-dark roasted coffee beans. The KONO dripper's only exhaust area is those quarter ribs—when water level rises above the ribs, water in the dripper continuously increases pressure through water weight. Due to the relatively small outlet, it extends the contact time between coffee particles and water, allowing water flow to more effectively extract soluble substances, thereby enhancing the coffee's rich, full-bodied flavor. This dripper is suitable for brewing medium-dark roasted coffee beans like FrontStreet Coffee's PWN Golden Mandheling, FrontStreet Coffee's Jamaica Blue Mountain No. 1, etc.

Hand Brew Parameters

FrontStreet Coffee's Golden Mandheling hand brew parameters: 87-88°C water temperature, medium grind (70% pass-through rate on China standard #20 sieve), coffee powder: 15g, powder-to-water ratio 1:15, three-stage pouring.

Use twice the amount of water as coffee powder to moisten the powder bed, forming a dome for a 30-second bloom. Then use a small water stream to pour from inside to outside in circles until 125g, then pause. When the powder bed drops to half the dripper's height, continue with the same fine stream to pour the third stage to 225g. Remove the dripper when all coffee liquid has filtered through—time approximately 2 minutes. Finally, shake the server to mix the coffee liquid and enjoy~

Tasting Notes

Hand-brewed FrontStreet Coffee's PWN Golden Mandheling coffee is overall rich and full-bodied with a clean mouthfeel. Flavors vary with temperature changes, showing layered complexity. Nut and caramel aromas, with chocolate and cinnamon spice notes, persistent aftertaste, and high balance.

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Important Notice :

前街咖啡 FrontStreet Coffee has moved to new addredd:

FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473