Elevation: 1300 – 1750 Masl
Processing Method: Semi washed (wet hulled)
Region: Gayo Highland, Central Aceh Area
Cupping Notes: Spicy, Herbal, Nutty, Bold Body, Medium Acidity
Cupping Score: –
Currently in Aceh, there are two types of coffee that are cultivated, Arabica coffee and Robusta coffee. Two types of Gayo coffee are very well known, namely Gayo coffee (Arabica) and Ulee Kareeng coffee (Robusta). Arabica coffee is generally cultivated in the highland areas of “Gayo Land”, Southeast Aceh and Gayo Lues, whereas in Pidie District (especially Tangse and Geumpang areas) and West Aceh, the community is more dominantly developed in the form of Robusta coffee. Arabica coffee is rather large and dark green, oval-shaped leaves, tree height reaches seven meters. However, in coffee plantations, the height of this tree is kept around 2-3 meters. The goal is to be easy when harvested. The Arabica Coffee Tree starts producing its first fruit in three years. Typically branches grow from stems about 15 cm long. The leaves above are younger in color because of the sun while the underneath is darker. Each stem holds 10-15 small flower arrangements that will become coffee fruit.
From this process then emerged coffee fruit called cherry, oval-shaped, two pieces side by side. Gayo Coffee is one of the leading commodities originating from the Gayo Highlands. Coffee plantations that have been developed since 1908 thrive in the districts of Bener Meriah and Central Aceh. Both areas are located at an altitude of 1200 m above sea level and have the largest coffee plantations in Indonesia, with an area of around 81,000 ha. Each of the 42,000 ha is located in Bener Meriah District and the remaining 39,000 ha is in Central Aceh District. Gayo is the name of the Indigenous People who inhabit this area. The majority of Gayo people work as Coffee Farmers.
Arabica varieties dominate the types of coffee developed by Gayo Coffee farmers. The production of Arabica Coffee produced from Gayo Land is the largest in Asia Gayo Coffee is one of the typical archipelago coffees from Aceh which is quite favored by various groups in the world. Gayo Coffee has a very distinctive aroma and taste. Most of the coffee available, the bitter taste is still left on our tongue, but not so with Gayo coffee. Bitter taste is almost not felt in this coffee. The original taste of Gayo coffee is found in the fragrant coffee aroma and savory taste that is almost not bitter. Some even argue that the taste of Gayo coffee exceeds the taste of Blue Mountain coffee from Jamaica. Gayo coffee is produced from smallholder plantations in the Gayo highlands, Central Aceh.