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Introduction to the History of Sumatra Mandheling Coffee Beans - Indonesia Sumatra Coffee Flavor Description

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/27, Professional coffee knowledge exchange and more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat public account: cafe_style). FrontStreet Coffee - Introduction to Sumatra Coffee History: The history of Sumatra coffee began when coffee was introduced to various Indonesian islands by the Dutch in the 16th century, with the first exports made by the Dutch East India Company in the early 17th century.

FrontStreet Coffee - Brief History of Sumatran Coffee

History of Sumatran Coffee

Coffee was introduced to the Indonesian islands by the Dutch in the 16th century and first exported by the Dutch East India Company in the early 17th century. The Dutch typically owned large plantations, and under colonial rule, workers and local people suffered economic and political persecution. In the 1860 novel "Max Havelaar, or the Coffee Auctions of the Dutch Trading Company," the Dutch trading company outlined numerous ways the Dutch government and landlords abused and oppressed the Indonesian people. Particularly in Sumatra and Java, hunger and poverty were common among coffee workers and indigenous societies.

Since the Dutch planted the first coffee tree in Indonesia over 300 years ago, Indonesia has become the world's fourth-largest coffee producer today. The islands of Sumatra, Java, and Sulawesi are Indonesia's three major coffee-producing regions, with 90% of the varieties being Robusta, while Sumatran coffee is the rare Arabica variety.

In the 1860s and 1870s, coffee leaf rust disease devastated Indonesia's coffee market and caused the Dutch to abandon many plantations. With the collapse of plantations, workers took possession of small plots of land and eventually replanted coffee with Robusta and various disease-resistant Arabica hybrid varieties. This land redistribution gave small farmers dominance on the islands, an advantage that continues to this day. Overall, Indonesia is currently the world's fourth-largest coffee producer.

Sumatran coffee is world-renowned for its unique herbal and woody flavor profile with incense-like characteristics. This is partly due to the mixed varieties of coffee plants and the local climate environment. On the other hand, it's due to a special processing method called wet-hulling, locally known as Giling Basah, which imparts many unique qualities to these coffees.

"Mandheling Coffee" is hailed as "the world's mellowest coffee." It has a rich, heavy aroma with no unpleasant acidity or astringency. In its mellow bitterness, there's a hint of sweetness and a faint grassy fragrance. Its elegant, mature flavor is deeply loved by coffee enthusiasts. Besides being enjoyed as a single-origin coffee, it's also an indispensable component in blended coffees.

Knowledge Point: Mandheling coffee beans are relatively large and hard in texture, and defects can easily occur during cultivation. Therefore, they typically undergo strict manual sorting after harvesting.

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