Differences Between Indonesian Mandheling and Arabica Coffee - PWN Golden Mandheling Coffee Bean Flavor Characteristics

If you're new to coffee, you might not be familiar with coffee bean varieties. You may not be well-acquainted with the various terms on coffee bean packaging, but you've likely seen common labels in major coffee chains claiming they use "100% Arabica coffee." You might wonder, what does "Arabica coffee" mean? For those who enjoy Mandheling coffee, you might also not understand the difference between Mandheling coffee and Arabica. To explain these, FrontStreet Coffee believes we first need to understand what Arabica coffee is.

According to FrontStreet Coffee's research, the coffee plant Coffea is a genus of about 100 species, but only two are widely referenced—Arabica and Robusta. The most significant differences between species that affect bean physiology and flavor are the altitudes at which they grow. Generally, higher altitude = better flavor.

FrontStreet Coffee considers Arabica coffee to be the most popular coffee type in the world today, and indeed, over 60% of the world's coffee beans are Arabica.

High-quality Arabica coffee beans grow at higher altitudes (approximately 550-1920 meters). Higher altitudes and more climate variations cause coffee cherries to grow more slowly. These environmental conditions give coffee cherries and beans more time to develop, resulting in more refined flavors. The optimal temperature for Arabica coffee is between 19-21°C, with a maximum average annual temperature of 24°C. Subtropical regions are ideal for growing Arabica coffee. Fertile volcanic soil is also one of the most suitable growing environments for Arabica coffee beans, as volcanic soil possesses a range of physical, chemical, and mineral properties that make it agriculturally superior to other soil types. The fertility of volcanic soil is crucial for coffee plant development. Moreover, the low density and stable but porous structure of volcanic soil allow it to effectively retain moisture while remaining relatively drought-resistant. Due to their high permeability, plant roots can grow deep and drain easily, preventing roots from becoming too wet and rotting.

However, Arabica coffee is very susceptible to environmental factors. In contrast, Robusta coffee beans are not only hardier but also immune to many diseases. Due to relatively harsh growing conditions, their flavor is stronger, so Robusta is widely used in blended espresso or instant coffee. FrontStreet Coffee's commercial blended coffee beans include Robusta beans to increase espresso crema and enrich the coffee's flavor complexity.

Robusta coffee is often considered to have bitter, rubbery, and grainy flavors. Of course, it's not just about growing conditions—Robusta coffee beans contain twice as much caffeine as Arabica. More caffeine and chlorogenic acid can produce undesirable flavors when brewing coffee while also affecting the coffee's taste. However, not all Robusta coffee beans are like this. FrontStreet Coffee believes that high-quality Robusta beans often don't have these negative flavors.

Is Mandheling Arabica or Robusta?

So, is Mandheling coffee an Arabica or Robusta bean? Customers familiar with FrontStreet Coffee's Mandheling coffee flavor profile know that Mandheling beans have unique herbal notes, with some customers even describing earthy flavors. However, its heavy body, smooth texture, and rich caramel aftertaste have conquered the palates of many coffee connoisseurs.

To answer this question, FrontStreet Coffee suggests first understanding the history and origin of Mandheling coffee.

Mandheling coffee from Sumatra, Indonesia, is one of the most distinctive coffees in the world. While most coffees are named after their growing regions or countries, Mandheling coffee is named after the Mandheling people, who traditionally grow and process these coffee beans. According to FrontStreet Coffee's research, legend has it that during World War II, a Japanese soldier stationed in Sumatra asked a local Sumatran where his coffee came from. The Sumatran misunderstood and thought he was being asked about his ethnicity, so he replied: "Mandheling." Later, the Japanese soldier returned to Japan but couldn't forget the local Indonesian coffee, so he commissioned a local coffee trader to purchase this coffee. From then on, Mandheling coffee became known. That Indonesian coffee trader was the renowned PWN (PT. Pawani) green coffee trading company.

FrontStreet Coffee's Golden Mandheling

FrontStreet Coffee's PWN Golden Mandheling factory certificate and green bean bags

FrontStreet Coffee's Golden Mandheling is imported from PWN company. There are many Golden Mandheling coffees on the market, but please note that many are counterfeit. How can you distinguish genuine from fake? FrontStreet Coffee offers you two simple tips: green bean bags printed with the PWN logo and the PWN Golden Mandheling factory certificate. As mentioned earlier, PWN is Indonesia's most famous green coffee acquisition company, naturally acquiring the best Mandheling coffee. Moreover, PWN company has registered "Golden Mandheling" as a trademark, so only Golden Mandheling produced by PWN company is authentic Golden Mandheling.

Mandheling coffee is primarily grown in North Sumatra, including areas like Lintong, Sidikalang, Tanah Karo, and Simalungun. In the 2020 new harvest season, FrontStreet Coffee's Golden Mandheling moved from the original Lake Toba region to the more northern Gayo Mountain region. Why did PWN company choose the Gayo Mountain region? FrontStreet Coffee believes that although coffee growing areas are on hillside land with cultivation heights between 1100-1600 meters, producing excellent coffee beans, political instability previously made it difficult to export Gayo Mountain coffee. However, Indonesia's situation has stabilized in recent years, making export convenient. Furthermore, coffee cultivation in the Aceh region has also developed, with higher quality guarantees.

Mandheling Varieties

It's not just about growing regions—FrontStreet Coffee's 2020 new harvest Golden Mandheling also changed bean varieties. From the original Typica to the current Ateng. What is Ateng? It's actually the Indonesian name for Catimor coffee. Now you should understand! Mandheling coffee belongs to the Arabica species. Of course, Mandheling coffee varieties aren't limited to Catimor and Typica—they also include familiar varieties like Caturra and Tim. FrontStreet Coffee offers five types of Mandheling coffee beans: Golden Mandheling, Aged Mandheling, Lintong Mandheling, Tiger Mandheling, and Sumatra Wahana Estate Natural Mandheling.

Brewing Guide for FrontStreet Coffee's Golden Mandheling

So how should you brew FrontStreet Coffee's Golden Mandheling for the best taste? Here are FrontStreet Coffee's brewing parameters:

Brewing Parameters:

• Dripper: KONO
• Water Temperature: 88°C
• Grind Size: Medium-coarse (75% pass-through rate on #20 standard sieve)
• Coffee-to-Water Ratio: 1:15
• Roast Level: Medium-dark roast
• Brewing Method: Multi-stage extraction

Brewing Technique:

First pour 30g of water for a 30-second bloom. Then pour to 120g and pause. Wait until the water level in the coffee bed drops to halfway, then continue pouring slowly until reaching 225g. Wait until all water has filtered through the dripper, then remove the dripper. Total extraction time should be around 2 minutes.

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Important Notice :

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FrontStreet Coffee Address: 315,Donghua East Road,GuangZhou

Tel:020 38364473