Gayo vs Mandheling
Both are premium Indonesian Arabicas from Sumatra — but they're very different coffees. Here's everything you need to know before ordering.
Gayo Arabica is grown in Aceh Tengah at 1,200–1,600m altitude. It's brighter, more complex, with floral and fruity notes — the specialty roaster's choice. Mandheling is grown across North Sumatra and processed via wet-hull (Giling Basah), giving it a heavier body, lower acidity, earthy dark chocolate character — the classic "Indonesian" cup profile. Gayo is priced slightly higher. Both are available FOB Belawan.
| Factor | Gayo Arabica | Mandheling Arabica |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Aceh Tengah, Aceh Province | Mandailing Natal, Lintong, North Sumatra |
| Altitude | 1,200–1,600m Higher | 900–1,400m |
| Primary Process | Full Wash, Natural, Honey, Wine | Wet-Hull (Giling Basah) Unique |
| SCA Score | 82–88 Higher ceiling | 80–85 |
| Body | Medium to full | Full to very full Heavier |
| Acidity | Medium-bright, clean Brighter | Low to medium, soft |
| Flavor Notes | Floral, citrus, stone fruit, brown sugar | Dark chocolate, cedar, earth, tobacco, herbal |
| Moisture at export | 11–12.5% (stable) | 13–14% (higher — wet-hull process) |
| FOB Price (Grade 1) | USD 8.90–10.20/kg | USD 8.70–10.00/kg |
| Port | FOB Belawan (Medan) | FOB Belawan (Medan) |
| MOQ | 100 kg | 100 kg |
| Best for | Specialty single origin, filter, light roast | Espresso blends, dark roast, classic Indonesian profile |
Mandheling's defining characteristic is wet-hull processing — a method unique to Sumatra. Unlike Full Wash (where parchment is removed after drying) or Natural (where the cherry dries intact), wet-hull removes the parchment while the bean still has high moisture content (30–50%).
This produces Mandheling's signature traits: very low acidity, heavy syrupy body, and the earthy-woody flavor notes that define "classic Indonesian coffee." The beans have a bluish-green color at export (compared to Gayo's lighter yellow-green).
Gayo can also be processed via wet-hull, but is more commonly offered as Full Wash or Natural — giving buyers more processing variety.
→ Choose Gayo. Higher SCA scores, more processing options, cleaner cup profile for filter/pour-over.
→ Choose Mandheling. Heavy body, low acidity, dark chocolate notes hold up well through dark roast.
→ Choose Gayo. EU Organic, USDA Organic, and Fairtrade certifications widely available.
→ Choose Mandheling. USD 0.30–0.80/kg cheaper than Gayo for equivalent grade.
→ Choose Gayo. More farmers with Natural and Wine process infrastructure in Aceh region.
→ Either. Both available in FCL (17–19 MT). Mandheling has slightly more consistent commercial supply.
MOQ 500 kg per origin. FOB Belawan. We ship to USA, Europe, Australia, Japan, and more.