Where our Kopi Luwak comes from

Indonesia has more than seventeen thousand islands and four major terroirs for civet coffee. Each gives a different cup.

A volcanic archipelago

Indonesia has produced coffee since the late seventeenth century, when the Dutch East India Company planted the first coffee trees on Java. Volcanic soils, altitude and abundant rainfall create rare conditions there: a dense, earthy coffee with low acidity, far removed from South American profiles.

The palm civet lives in those same areas, on the edge between forest and plantation. It is this coexistence, not farming, that produces authentic Kopi Luwak.

The four terroirs

Depending on availability, our lots come from one of these regions. The origin always appears on the sheet accompanying your order.

Sumatra — Gayo and Mandheling

Between 1,100 and 1,600 m in the north of the island. The most characterful profile: very heavy body, notes of damp earth, cedar and bitter cocoa, almost no acidity. This is the origin connoisseurs ask for most.

Java — Ijen and Preanger

The historic colonial-era plantations on the volcanic slopes in the east of the island. A cleaner, more balanced profile, with toasted hazelnut and gentle spice, and a shorter finish than Sumatra.

Bali — Kintamani

At the foot of Mount Batur, intercropped with citrus under the traditional subak abian system. The coffee takes on a citrus edge that lightens the whole. An accessible profile, often the favourite at a first tasting.

Sulawesi — Toraja

Isolated highlands in the centre of the island. Full body, velvety texture, notes of dark caramel and spice. Volumes are the smallest of the four origins.

Technical reference points

Species
Coffea arabica (Typica, Ateng, Lini S varieties)
Altitude
900 to 1,600 m depending on origin
Harvest season
May to September depending on region
Processing
Wet process, then sun-drying on raised beds
Documentation
Origin, collector and harvest year supplied with every lot

On traceability

An origin claimed without documents is only a claim. We ask every supplier for the name of the collection area, the identity of the collector or cooperative, the harvest year and the method of collection. Those details accompany every lot sold in Switzerland.

If a supplier cannot provide them, we do not buy. How we verify.