Indonesia: Barokah Kerinici

Highlights

“On the volcanic slopes of Mount Kerinci in Sumatra, the Koerintji Barokah Bersama Cooperative gathers 320 smallholders on the fertile plateau below the mountain. Founded in 2017 and led by Triyono, the co-op runs its own processing line, roastery and cupping lab, and reinvests profits in infrastructure or returns them to members as quality premiums. For this lot the co-op took an experimental route: handpicked cherries are sorted by density and ripeness, then sealed in airtight bags for seven days of cool anaerobic fermentation. The cherries are pulped with sticky mucilage still clinging to the beans and dried slowly for about three weeks on raised beds inside protective domes before milling and hand sorting. Expect a syrupy body where tropical fruit and ripe raspberry meet cacao nibs and a light spice lift, with an almost liqueur-like depth underneath. Cupped at 87.5 points.”