Orangutan Coffee

The name orangutan comes from Malay and means "forest person." Orangutans are found only in Southeast Asia, specifically in the lowland rainforests of the islands of Borneo and Sumatra. However, due to large-scale deforestation for plantations, much of their habitat has been lost. Although Sumatran orangutans are protected, they continue to face threats from poaching and the ongoing deforestation of their forests.

In 2017, the population of Sumatran orangutans was estimated at around 13,846 individuals, the majority of which live within Leuser National Park. Due to the ongoing destruction of their habitats and their particularly slow reproductive cycle, scientists expect their numbers to decline further in the future.

The coffee farmers are our most important partners.If we succeed in motivating them to use the land they farm sustainably, the conditions for respectful treatment of all living beings and the protection of the rainforest will be created.

We support our partners in converting to organic farming and reinforce their traditional knowledge of the importance of the complex relationships between tropical rainforest and coffee cultivation. These considerations are the driving force behind the unique Orangutan Coffee.

Wih Bersih

The idyllic village of Wih Bersih lies in the Aceh Tengah district at an altitude of 1200–1600 meters above sea level, nestled amidst its coffee plantations on a terrace at the foot of a volcanic slope covered in pristine mountain rainforest. The coffee farmers of Wih Bersih were our first partners!

The coffee farmers of Wih Bersih were our first partners!

We started with 40 farmers in 2012, and today we have 58, cultivating a total of almost 32 hectares of Arabica coffee, primarily the Tim Tim and Ateng varieties. The first coffee farmers received organic certification in April 2014. "Wih Bersih" means "clean water," and this is guaranteed thanks to the intact rainforest. Biodiversity is high on this plantation, as the farmers plant a variety of other trees among the coffee bushes, including avocado, mandarin, nangka, durian, papaya, banana, and cinnamon, in addition to the legume Lamtoro.

Umang Isaq

Umang Isaq, which means "Uncle Isaac," joined the project as our second partner in July 2013. The village is situated in a charming landscape in the Aceh Tengah district, more than a 5-hour drive from Takengon, the capital of the Gayo Highlands, and has a unique history.

During the civil war, it served as a secret refuge for Aceh freedom fighters, leading to a conflict with the army and, consequently, the forced displacement of the local villagers. Only after the end of the civil war in 2005 did the coffee farmers gradually return and tend to the neglected plantations.

The coffee plantations are situated at an altitude of 1000–1400 meters above sea level, and the Arabica varieties Tim-Tim and Ateng are primarily cultivated. We currently work with 27 farmers who cultivate 46 hectares. The location of these plantations is unique, as there are no other coffee plantations in the vicinity.

Mekar Indah

The small village of “Mekar Indah”, which translates to “Beautiful Blossom”, is an offshoot of the village of Wih Bersih, and its coffee gardens are adjacent to those of “Wih Bersih” at an altitude between 1200 and 1600 meters above sea level in the Central Aceh district.

Since 2015, the Orang Utan Coffee Project has been working with 22 farmers here, who cultivate an area of ​​17.7 hectares of coffee plantations, mainly Tim Tim and Ateng varieties. Village culture and coffee cultivation in Mekar Indah hardly differ from those in Wih Bersih.

Panji Mulia

The name "Panji Mulia" means "Noble Victory." The origin of this name is unknown; perhaps a battle took place here in the past? These coffee plantations are located in the Bener Meriah district at an altitude of 1300 to 1500 meters above sea level. The Orangutan Coffee Project works with 40 coffee farmers who cultivate a total area of ​​25.5 hectares of coffee plantations. The varieties grown here are Arabica Ateng and Tim-Tim. These are high-quality, locally grown plant types.

Uning Berith

Coffee cultivation has long been the livelihood of this group, led by Irwan Kadari. The plantations are located at an altitude of 1200–1400 meters above sea level in the Bener Meriah district. Since 2023, we have been working with 77 coffee farmers who cultivate a total of 54.9 hectares. The Arabica varieties Tim-Tim and Ateng predominate.

The village of Uning Bertih is situated in a charming landscape at the foot of Burni Kelong mountain. Due to the unique hillside location, the coffee harvest here extends over a longer period than in other regions.

Pondok Gaja

Pondok Gajah means "elephant stable" in English. This group joined the OUC project in 2019. Locals believe that the village of Pondok Gajah was once visited to see elephants. Located at an altitude of 1400 to 1500 meters above sea level in the Bener Meriah district, Pondok Gajah is one of the best coffee-growing areas in the Gayo Highlands due to its high elevation and fertile soil. 64.5 hectares are cultivated by 94 farmers under the guidance of Misniadi. In addition to coffee as the main product, ginger is also grown. This is an effective method for reducing weeds between the coffee trees and also provides additional income for the farmers. As in the other villages, the Tim-Tim and Ateng coffee varieties are also cultivated here.

Kayu Aro

Kayu Aro is located in Central Sumatra, in the province of Jambi, southeast of the Gayo Highlands. Coffee cultivation doesn't have a long tradition here, as Kayu Aro is actually known for its world-renowned tea. However, in the area surrounding Kerinci-Seblat National Park, vegetable farming is the main focus.

Just under a year ago, we began collaborating with Dr. Sukianto Lusli and his company, Tropical Agro. Since 2009, this biologist and renowned conservationist has been successfully persuading independent smallholder farmers in the area surrounding Kerinci-Seblat National Park to switch their crops from vegetables to coffee. Mixed cropping is the norm here, and cabbage still grows among the coffee trees, which is frowned upon because the routine use of pesticides and herbicides in vegetable crops is difficult to counteract. With Tropical Agro's support, the farmers have planted around 800,000 coffee bushes over the past few years. The first harvests took place in 2014, and by 2016/2017, 1,080 tons of top-quality (Grade 1) beans had already been harvested from 628,000 coffee bushes. The conversion to organic farming is a challenge that is currently being tackled.

Unlike the Gayo coffee-growing region, the Kerinci coffee farmers sell their coffee berries unprocessed to the company Tropical Agro, where they are processed for export in a newly built, modern facility. This allows for better control of quality standards. Most of the coffee gardens are located at the foot of the Gunung Kerinci volcano, on the edge of the Kerinci Seblat National Park.

Kerinci Seblat National Park   

With a total area of ​​almost 14,000 square kilometers (more than a quarter of the area of ​​Switzerland), Sumatra's largest national park stretches across four provinces of the island: West Sumatra, Jambi, Bengkulu, and South Sumatra, at altitudes ranging from 200 meters to 3,805 meters above sea level. The highest plateaus in Sumatra are located on the parts of the Bukit Barisan ridge that lie within the park – a mountain range that extends across the whole of Sumatra and contains over 30 active volcanoes.

The highest peak is Gunung Kerinci at 3,805 meters above sea level, a still-active stratovolcano. The park is also famous for its hot springs, rivers, caves, and Southeast Asia's highest crater lake. Around 4,000 plant species have been found here, including the world's largest flower: Rafflesia arnoldii. The critically endangered Sumatran tiger, Sumatran rhinoceros, and Sumatran elephant are still found here, as well as clouded leopards, tapirs, and sun bears. Approximately 370 bird species have been recorded.

The frequent illegal activities in the national park, such as logging and the establishment of illegal plantations, are to be curbed by the new coffee plantations, as farmers receive a much higher return on their investment from coffee cultivation than from vegetable farming. Initial successes have already been observed.