Hello Explorers!
As the weather cools down, I find myself craving coffees that are a little heavier and warmer. I look for cups that bring to mind characteristics like wine, spice, or earthy, woodsy elements.
While last year's winter seasonal blend leaned heavily into those deep flavors, this year—as you experienced last month—we took a different path: bright, fruity, and poppy!
But I still have that itch for a true winter warmer. When I think of those comforting, deeper coffees, I'm drawn to a primary coffee-producing country that I believe is often overlooked: Indonesia.
This massive country spans an archipelago wider than the continental United States! Coffee is grown throughout the highlands across its dramatic landscape, with Sumatra (on the western end) being a well-known origin. Indonesia is actually the 5th greatest coffee producer in the world! While the bulk is robusta, its Arabica production is significant and yields unique flavors tied to the Indonesian terroir.
Fun Fact: Indonesia was one of the first places coffee was cultivated outside of Africa and Arabia. It was brought by the Dutch East India Company, and it was so successful that the name of one of the main islands where it was grown eventually became synonymous with coffee itself: Java.
Another important producing island, after Sumatra, is Sulawesi. I really enjoy the characteristics I find in these cups: a nice full body without being too heavy, and full of those warm, almost savory notes.
Included in this month’s box is a sample from Sulawesi that we are preparing to feature this spring. I was immediately attracted to its notes of sweet earth, an almost savory "spicy" element, and flavors of browning spices like cinnamon and clove. It is deep and rich in the cup, bringing a true sense of comfort on these cooling mornings.
I hope you enjoy this trip to a part of the world I'm planning to revisit soon! I'm planning another trip to Indonesia late-Spring/early-Summer 2026. It's been a few years, and I can't wait to share stories (and maybe a few more unique coffees!) with you after that trip.
Until then, I hope you enjoy the coffee. Let me know what you think! And from all of us, we wish you and yours a Happy Thanksgiving full of happiness, friends, family, and loved ones.
P.S. Indonesian coffees compliment Pumpkin Pie exceptionally well! Cheers!
Robin Seitz
VP Private Partnerships and Supply Chain