% Arabica’s mission is to have its customers ‘See the world through coffee.’ With this in mind, founder Kenneth Shoji personally travels to the world’s best coffee producers each year to curate % Arabica’s selection of single origin coffees. % Arabica Indonesia is proud to launch its newest collection of new single origin coffee beans. The % Arabica team of expert roasters and baristas have precisely curated these beans to bring out their unique characteristics. From the lush hills of Colombia to the enchanting landscapes of Indonesia, each bean tells a story of dedication, passion, and a deep love for the art of coffee.
Here are the new coffee beans that are now available in all % Arabica stores in Jakarta and Bali:
Guatemala Chimaltenango Concepción Buena Vista
This coffee comes from one area of the estate called “El Horizonte” in the Central region of Guatemala. The bean is the result of the tireless efforts of brothers Eddy and David Solano, the fourth-generation of coffee farmers hailing from their family, to continue the family tradition of cultivating Red Bourbon coffee trees. The ripe coffee cherries are rinsed, floated, and dried whole on African beds for approximately 16-21 days, which results in a medium-bodied cup with high acidity and notes of blackcurrant, plum, and caramel.
Nicaragua Jinotega Las Delicias
These beans are sourced from the Mierisch family’s farm in the high mountains of Nicaragua’s Matagalpa and Jinotega regions. The Las Delicias is their smallest farm in Jinotega, managed by Eleane Mierisch. Eleane is a fourth-generation family farmer and one of Nicaragua’s leading lights in coffee processing. Only the ripest cherries of this Javanica lot are selected and dried on African-style raised beds, where they are turned regularly to allow even drying. The result is a vibrant and intense cup full of fruit sugars, with strong notes of blueberry and berry fruits, and a hint of almond in the finish. It is
perfect for Chemex or to roast to be enjoyed at home.
Peru Cajamarca Cedros Cooperative
Sourced from Jaen finca (estate) in the Cajamarca Region in Peru, the beans are produced by Cedros Cooperative. The cooperative is composed of small holder farms, ranging between one to three hectares in size at an altitude between 1,500-2,000 meters above sea level. This lot combines the Bourbon, Catimore, and Pache coffee varieties. After the cherries are de-pulped, the beans are fermented for 15 to 48 hours before being washed and dried for 12 to 25 days. The resulting coffee is a clean, classic natural with medium fermentation and the sweet taste of stewed fruit and berries with an
herbal finish.
Colombia Huila Monteblanco (Tropical Washed)
The Huila district in south Colombia is globally known for producing the most revered coffees in the specialty coffee world. These beans are sourced from Finca Monteblanco, a family farm managed by Rodrigo Sánchez Valencia. This Monteblanco Purple Caturra washed-processed lot is a unique combination of both a rare coffee variety and a special processing method. After harvest, the ripe cherries are floated to remove impurities before being de-pulped and then transferred into tanks. A ‘mother’ solution made up of special microorganisms is fed with molasses and panela and fermented for 8 hours before being added to the tanks so the coffee can begin fermenting. Tropical fruits such as oranges, plums, and passion fruits are then added to impart unique fruity flavors to the coffee. After 150 hours, the coffee is washed and dried. Expect a pleasantly fruity coffee with the taste of orange, plum, red berries, passion fruit, and blackberries.
Indonesia Gayo Asbi Estate
ASBI Estate is the most prominent name in Gayo’s coffee farming scene, which is located in northern Indonesia. Produced in Simpur Batu Village in East Java, the pleasantly cool weather and the maturity of the many coffee trees are crucial in creating the finest cherries for their Classic Natural Process—a primary method that genuinely allows the quality of premium coffee cherries to shine. The process starts with carefully selecting the red Bourbon, Abyssinia, and Typica cherries. These beans are harvested at the peak of their quality and laid out dry for 20-25 days. The dried cherries are then pulped before being sorted, graded, and rested within the span of seven days. The resulting coffee is then sampled and tasted to guarantee top-notch quality rich with the taste of cocoa nibs, dried mango, berries, and the clean taste of oolong tea.
Indonesia Sumatra Korintji Kayu Aro
The ALKO Sumatra Kopi cooperative produces fine coffees on the slope of Mount Kerinci in Sumatra—the area widely known for its abundant tea plantations. With over 400 hectares of land and over 500 farmers partnered with them, the ALKO team has continued improving their coffees’ quality and traceability since 2017. We’re excited to share this lot from ALKO, which uses a mix of local Arabica varieties called Andung Sari and Sigararutang. After the ripe cherries are harvested, they are dried whole under canopies on raised beds before being de-pulped. This process gives the coffee a fruity and sweet taste with the flavors of pear, raisins, and pineapple with notes of jasmine and rose tea.
Among all the new beans now available at all % Arabica stores in Jakarta and Bali, two varieties of beans are considered the stars. They are:
Colombia Huila Monteblanco (Passion Fruit)
The story of Huila Finca Monteblanco coffee beans originates in the region of Huila in the far south of sunny Colombia. Coffee from Huila is famous for its intricate flavors and natural sweetness, and the beans grown at Finca Monteblanco are no different. This 14-hectare farm nestled in the charming municipality of San Adolfo is uniquely positioned near Cueva de los Guacharos, one of Colombia’s protected parks–its location making it a haven for biodiversity.
Managed by third-generation coffee farmer Rodrigo Sanchez Valencia, Finca Monteblanco produces a special lot of coffee using Passion Fruit Washed beans. These beans are infused with flavors from the cholupa and granadilla passion fruit varieties, which are known for sweet and unique flavors native to Huila. To obtain the distinctive taste of coffee, the farmers crush these passion fruits and mix them with a blend of fermenting agents in a 200-liter container. The fruit and agents ferment together for 190 hours, with regular additions of molasses, sugar, or more fruit to nourish the mixture.
Once the mixture is ripe for the addition of coffee, they allow the coffee beans and fruit to ferment together for an additional 150 to 190 hours. This process infuses the coffee with the delightful flavors of cholupa, granadilla, and caramel–a combination that is well worth the wait. After this nine-day process, the beans are carefully dried for approximately 20 to 25 days.
Indonesia Gayo Kala Tenang Estate
Gayo is located at the northern tip of Sumatra in the Aceh Province of Indonesia. The entire region spans the hillsides surrounding the Bener Meriah regency, near Takengon and Lake Lut Tawar. With high altitudes, a cool, wet climate, and plenty of trees to shade the coffees growing in the highlands, the sugars in the cherries slowly infuse into the beans, resulting in sweet and fruity notes.
The Kala Tenang Estate is located in a quaint village within Bener Meriah, and it employed a traditional natural post-harvest processing technique for this batch. Carefully selected cherries are gently placed in a fermentation drum fully immersed in water. They undergo a 30-minute immersion in the barrel before being extracted and laid on coffee-drying tables for sun drying. Following this, the dried cherries are allowed to rest for a week. This process optimizes the development of their aromatic and flavor profiles. The outcome is a delightfully fruity cup brimming with the luscious notes of blueberries, dried mango, and a subtle hint of refreshing watermelon.
With the addition of these eight new coffee beans, % Arabica now offers a rich collection suitable for all coffee fans. The coffee beans’ prices vary from IDR185,000 up to a whopping IDR2,800,000 per kilo.
This Festive Season, we are thrilled to announce that % Arabica’s newest coffee beans are now available as part of our exquisite range of holiday hampers. These hampers, thoughtfully curated, are priced between IDR129,000 to IDR800,000 and are designed to be the perfect gift for any coffee enthusiast during the Christmas or New Year celebrations. Share the joy of exceptional coffee with your loved ones, and let your gift be a testament to the spirit of giving and togetherness that the holiday season represents.
