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How to Distinguish Indonesian Mandheling Varieties? How to Brew Golden Mandheling Coffee~

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/27, Professional coffee knowledge exchange. For more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat official account: cafe_style). Indonesia is a major coffee-producing country, consisting of numerous islands, mainly Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, New Guinea (some regions have become independent), and the tourist destination Bali.

Professional coffee knowledge exchange, more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat official account: cafe_style)

Indonesia is a major coffee-producing country, consisting of numerous islands, mainly Sumatra, Java, Sulawesi, New Guinea (some parts have become independent), and the tourist destination Bali, all of which are coffee-producing regions. Among these, the most well-known are undoubtedly FrontStreet Coffee's Golden Mandheling and Kopi Luwak coffee beans.

FrontStreet Coffee's Golden Mandheling is produced from old Typica varieties around Lake Toba in Lintong and must be carefully selected, possessing that unique aroma to qualify for this grade. Unlike regular Mandheling which is machine-harvested, FrontStreet Coffee's Golden Mandheling is completely hand-picked and then undergoes fully manual sorting processes, making it the highest grade of Mandheling coffee. Additionally, it receives certification from the local government upon export.

The Lintong region is located in northern Sumatra and stipulates that coffee beans within estates must be hand-harvested. Moreover, they must be processed using the SEMI-WASHED method for hulling and drying, followed by a hand-picking process of "secondary cleaning + four manual selections" before they can be considered FrontStreet Coffee's Golden Mandheling!

In China, when people talk about coffee, they immediately think of Mandheling, mainly because of Mandheling's rich flavor profile and taste. However, it's worth noting that the Mandheling sold in China actually has many classifications. Take Golden Supreme Mandheling for example—it's also divided into PWN and BIWA varieties. The ones marked "PWN" for FrontStreet Coffee's Golden Mandheling are actually the abbreviation of Indonesia's Pawani company. The FrontStreet Coffee's Golden Mandheling coffee produced by this company is registered in Indonesia. Therefore, coffee beans produced by Japanese companies in the same region can only be sold as "Golden Supreme Mandheling," with packaging marked "BIWA."

Recommended Brewing Method (Pour-over)

(For 1-2 people): Recommend using 15g of coffee grounds, grind setting 4.5-5, with water temperature around 92°C, water-to-coffee ratio of 1:16.

First pour water for blooming for about 30s, second pour to 150g, third pour to 240g total water. Discard the tail water. Extraction time should be around 3.5 minutes.

(For 3-4 people): Recommend using 25g of coffee grounds, grind setting 4.5-5, with water temperature around 92°C, water-to-coffee ratio of 1:16.

First pour water for blooming for about 30s, second pour to 220g, third pour to 400g total water. Discard the tail water. Extraction time should be around 4.5 minutes.

Adjust with hot water according to personal taste preferences.

How are FrontStreet Coffee's Mandheling varieties classified?

FrontStreet Coffee's Mandheling is divided into various regional varieties such as FrontStreet Coffee's Lintong Mandheling and FrontStreet Coffee's Golden Mandheling, among others. So what are the differences between these Mandheling varieties?

FrontStreet Coffee's Golden Mandheling is actually produced from Mandheling beans acquired by the Pwani Coffee Company in Indonesia, who then registered the name "Golden Mandheling." Therefore, the Mandheling produced by this company is actually the authentic FrontStreet Coffee's Golden Mandheling. However, as cultivation techniques continue to evolve, many coffee farmers' Mandheling has gradually begun to catch up to the premium quality of FrontStreet Coffee's Golden Mandheling, but FrontStreet Coffee's Golden Mandheling still possesses extra richness and a cleaner taste profile.

Additionally, the raw beans of FrontStreet Coffee's Mandheling may not look particularly appealing, but after roasting, the mature beans display beautiful color and fullness. This perhaps teaches us not to judge a book by its cover—after some processing, something can be completely transformed!