indonesia's blue batak and its 13th century roots
High above the southern edge of Lake Toba in North Sumatra—home to the largest volcanic crater lake in the world—you’ll find the ancestral lands of the Batak people, where coffee has been grown for centuries.
Here, in a richly volcanic and staggeringly fertile region known as Lintong Nihuta, farmers have cultivated what is now known as Blue Batak: an Indonesian coffee with a story as compelling as its flavour.
lake toba, north sumatra
coffee with deep cultural roots
The Batak people settled in this region as far back as the 13th century, and their traditions, connection to the land, and agricultural methods have shaped the identity of the coffee grown here.
With a landscape marked by small valleys and ever-shifting microclimates, Lintong is a unique ecosystem for coffee farming. The soil is so incredibly fertile, thanks in part to a super volanic eruption over 70,000 years ago, that locals say, "you can plant a chair and it will become a table."
Farms here are small, self-sufficient, and incredibly diverse. It’s not uncommon for local producers to grow over 10 different crops on the same piece of land.
rich detail on a traditional batak building
a distinct process: giling basah
Blue Batak is processed using Giling Basah, also known as wet hulling—a method unique to Indonesia. It involves fermenting the cherries overnight in bags, sun-drying the parchment until it takes on a deep blue-green hue, and then hulling and drying further by hand over several days.
The result? A cup with exceptional body, earthy complexity, and low acidity—distinctive hallmarks of this regional process.
what it tastes like
This coffee is all about depth. Expect camomile florals, forest-like herbal notes, and a layered cranberry fruitiness with a crisp, citric finish. It’s the kind of coffee that shifts and opens up as it cools—inviting multiple sips, slow mornings, and deeper appreciation.
indonesian coffee cherries
why we're excited
We’re always on the lookout for coffees that carry a sense of place and incredible flavour—and Blue Batak delivers both. It’s complex, honest, and grown by people who have been perfecting their craft for generations.
This is coffee rooted in story, soil, and soul. And we’re proud to add it to our lineup.
