
NONNA EMMA - Blend
£6.50
Score: 87.75
Rasuna
Natural
Indonesia
Nov - May 2021
North Sumatra
Wahana state
1,200 - 1,500 Masl
Candyfloss, Caramel, Strawberry
This has been a fantastic year for Sumatra coffees and this Wahana Estate in Northern Sumatra is not the exemption. The Wahana wet mill has revolutionised coffee processing in the region since it first opened in 2005, in introducing a system whereby the freshly picked cherries are delivered to the wet mill for centralised processing. Indonesian coffees often used to be characterised by harsh earthiness and over fermentation due to coffees being processed differently by each small holder. These lots were then sold to collectors before being cleaned and graded by exporters. What the Wahana mill seeks to do is to create a streamlined and uniformed process that brings consistency to the cup.
The smallholders have also developed sustainable farming practices using only organic fertilizers (manure and composted cherry pulp), and planting canopy trees in an effort to provide 100% shade for all coffee plants. From an initial concentration on the Rasuna and Longberry varietals, the estate has moved to a more diverse offering comprising local varietals such as Andong Sari, Jember, and Jantung, as well as more recognisable ones such as Villa Sarchi, Colombia, and Catuai. These are all kept separated throughout the process, enabling future production of microlots. The estate also provides free housing, water and electricity to the 1,000 workers it employs, as well as there being a free health centre on site, kindergarten, and nursery.