Sulawesi: Champagne of Indonesian Coffee

Indonesian fans are deeply passionate for the taste characteristics of Indonesian coffee: Earthy, Wild Mushrooms and Brown Gravy. However, there is another side , a side that is rare in semi-washed coffee, a voice that dominates with grace, finesse and has manners to back up its robust profile. Enter the elegance of Sulawesi Coffee.


Sulawesi is the 11th largest island in Indonesia and can easily found on a map due to its unique K-Shape and sometimes coffee buyers wax poetic and refer to its old name of Celebes and/or Celebes Kalossi. The Portuguese were said to first refer to Sulawesi as "Celebes" and over time coffee from Sulawesi was also known as Celebes Kalossi. The Town of Kalossi often was the collection point for all coffee farmers bringing coffee down from the mountains  acting as the capital of coffee in Torajaland.  Sulawesi beans are a rare collection of riches since Sulawesi beans are produced at a much lower rate compared to the fierce tasting Sumatra coffees.

Most Indonesian farmers have grow and harvest coffee in their backyards usually on just on a couple of acres. The coffee is Picked, washed with very little water where ripe cherries sink to the bottom and unripe cherries float. Next, coffee cherries are pulped with a hand cranked depulper and then the coffee seeds are laid out to dry in their parchment. once the seeds reach about 30% moisture content, the seeds are hulled to remover the parchment and dried again. This unique process gives the Indonesian beans that green-pea hue.


Starbucks Stamp:

The Original Sulawesi stamp celebrated Heritage-Building upon the past, Strong Focal point-Key memorable Image, and Legibility with an electic attitude.  The color of the oriignal stamps communicated taste profile such as the green and brown in Sulawesi signaling earthy and herbal tones. These were visual indicators for Coffee Masters on the sales floor.

The image on the Sulawesi bag is a mythical creature that is 1/3 cat, 1/3 monkey and 1/3 human wearing a Sulawesi funeral mask similar to the above image from Indonesia.
















Tasting:

Kalita Wave
30 grams coffee to 450 Grams water
#16 grind Setting on Baratza Virtuoso (drip)
Pre-Wet Filter
50 Gram water to bloom, 40 second bloom time
1st Pour 200 Grams water
20 Second wait, then add 200 grams water

Notes:
Grounds have slight herbal notes not directly present in the wet aroma of the coffee.
Wet Aroma has mingling roasted coffee, damp pipe tobacco scent.
Herbal flavor comes through after coffee cools to reveal itself.
Herbal taste makes the Sulawesi coffee appear lively and fresh like a vegetative bouquet
This coffee has a Creamy full body that coats the roof of your mouth and lips. The best way to tell the body of a coffee is to rub your tinge on the roof of your mouth.

Pairing:
Einstein Bros. Spinach Florentine bagel and Onion/Chive cream cheese.