Sumatra Lake Tawar

Name: Sumatra Lake Tawar
Brand: mycuppa
SKU: SUM1WB
Price: 44.0 AUD
Availability: InStock
Rating: 4.95 (22 reviews)

$44.00 AUD

Flavor intensity : 9

Pack Size

1kg 500g

Option to Grind

Cup and Taste Notes

Flavor : Black fruits, molasses, spice, treacle with a dark chocolate finish

Acidity : Medium with complex citrus

Body : Bold, thick, intense, syrupy

Aroma : Currants, forest floor, spices

Roaster's Notes

There is nothing else like Sumatran coffee.
They well and truly stand alone on the coffee stage.
The last decade has been challenging for Sumatran coffees.
Demand has constantly outstripped supply, and prices keep surging higher.
It's an expensive origin, up there with Kenya, Panama and Decaf's.
The high prices for Sumatran coffees are primarily due to strong buying interest from North American coffee brands such as Starbucks and Green Mountain. They tend to buy hundreds of tons at a time, causing shortfalls.
With excessive rains from years of La Nina weather patterns, the risk of taints will be considerably higher in Sumatra coffee than in other coffee origins.
Lake Tawar remains a stand-out favourite for many of our mycuppa customers.
One of the exciting aspects of this coffee has been how it ages - gracefully.
Most coffees (except Monsoon Malabar) begin the oxidization and degradation process from around Day 16.
Like Monsoon Malabar, Indonesian coffee holds its cup quality much longer than many other coffees.
This Lake Tawar single-origin offers bold, punchy and memorable coffee with or without milk.

Brew Recipe

Brew recipes are only intended as a rough and general guide. Always adjust recipe parameters to suit your own personal taste.

Dose - 20 grams

Yield - 42 grams

Time - 32 seconds

Ratio - 1 : 1.75

Guide - Ah yes, the Indo coffee extraction challenge. You will need a finer grind than you think, then go finer again. Do not be afraid to choke this puppy with pressure during extraction, the Indo coffees will reward with plenty of juicy body.

Delivery and Shipping

Not home or want to leave instructions ? Easy, please make sure you visit our cart page first before checking out to set Authority To Leave (Signature Not Required) and add your instructions.

Free standard shipping for Australian orders over $140. New Zealand shipping rates have already been heavily discounted.

AusPost Express option available.

Shipped fast - orders received before 3pm sent same day.

Orders will ship via AusPost or StarTrack for large, bulky orders.

We care - all orders are packed into cartons to protect. Never satchels.

How shipping costs are calculated : Shipping charges vary and there is no flat rate. Carriers use destination (your postcode), the cubic volume (size) and the weight of a parcel to determine cost.

We try our best to offer the most competitive rates.

When will my parcel arrive : Unfortunately, it's not possible to supply accurate delivery times and we suggest checking the courier websites for the latest transit times.

We promise to get your order ready super-fast, nothing hangs around waiting.

Generally, we pick, pack and ship your order within an hour during our work shifts.

Tracking: You will receive notifications and tracking details via email as we pick and ship your order. Once we hand over your parcel to the courier they will keep you informed as the parcel makes the journey to you.

Why we are faster: We get it, nobody likes waiting for deliveries, especially coffee.

Our large size enables us to have direct access to a high-speed hub that bypasses Melbourne Parcel Facility - a source of delays. We can't guarantee all parcels will bypass MPF as this is subject to route plans by the courier.

It is possible to reduce 1-2 days from the transit time by helping your parcel arrive sooner.

Suitable for : Espresso, Stovetop, Drip/Filter, Percolator, Plunger

Sumatra coffee offer a bold, complex and nuanced cup. This is a classic profile for Indonesian coffees.

Description

Sumatra Lake Tawar Coffee Beans: Intense Wet-Hulled Single Origin

Experience the intense, bold flavors of our Sumatra Lake Tawar coffee beans. This triple-picked, single-origin Arabica is widely regarded as one of the best Sumatran coffees. Processed using the traditional wet-hulled (Giling Basah) method, it develops a big, intensely sweet cup with prominent dark fruit and chocolate flavors. A super-clean, high-quality Lintong that maintains the complexity of wet-hulling without the typical earthy taints. Perfect for those seeking a potent, punchy, and complex Indonesian coffee.

The Cult Favorite: Sumatra Lake Tawar

Our Sumatra Lake Tawar coffee has built a considerable cult following since 2011, and for good reason. It offers an unparalleled flavor experience among Indonesian single-origin coffee.

Origin: Lake Tawar region, Sumatra, Indonesia.
Variety: 100% Arabica, Triple-Picked Lintong.
Processing: Traditional Wet-Hulled (Semi-Washed and Sun-Dried).
Flavor Profile: A bold and intensely sweet cup. Expect a strong burst of dark fruit and brooding sweetness, complemented by classic chocolate flavors.
Key Differentiator: This is a super-clean Sumatran coffee lot, carefully selected to contain no traditional earthy taints often associated with the wet-hulling process.

If you are looking for a potent, complex coffee that always keeps you interested, the Lake Tawar is your perfect match.

Understanding Wet-Hulled (Giling Basah) Sumatran Coffees

The wet-hulled process is unique to Indonesian coffees and is the defining characteristic that gives Sumatran coffee beans their intense flavor and complexity.

This labor-intensive method involves hulling the coffee at a high moisture content, resulting in a higher moisture level in the finished raw bean. While this carries risks (like fermentation or mould taints), our stringent quality control ensures we only purchase lots, like this Lake Tawar, that pass our critical tests.

Our 42+ years of experience in coffee guarantees a unique, untainted, and superior product.

Payment & Security

Payment methods

Your payment information is processed securely. We do not store credit card details nor have access to your credit card information.

Watch our video below to learn more.

myCuppa single origin explainer series videos

About myCuppa Single Origin Coffees

What is a Single Origin coffee?

A Single Origin coffee comes from one identifiable country, region, producer, farm or lot. This allows the coffee’s individual character to be more clearly expressed than it might be in a blend.

How should I choose a Single Origin coffee?

Start with the flavour profile rather than the country name alone. Consider whether you prefer chocolate and caramel, fruit and sweetness, bright acidity, floral aromas or heavier body.

What is the best Single Origin coffee for beginners?

Balanced, full-bodied coffees with rounded sweetness are usually the easiest starting point. Colombian, Brazilian and some Central American coffees are often approachable choices for customers beginning to explore Single Origins.

Are Single Origin coffees better than blends?

Not necessarily. Single Origin coffees are valued for their distinctive character, while blends are designed to provide balance, consistency and a particular flavour profile. The better choice depends on what you enjoy and how you brew.

Are Single Origin coffees suitable for espresso?

Yes. Many Single Origin coffees perform very well as espresso, although some are brighter, lighter or more delicate than traditional espresso blends. The result depends on the coffee, roast profile and brewing recipe.

Do Single Origin coffees change regularly?

Yes. Single Origin coffees are seasonal agricultural products, so availability can change as harvests, lots and supply conditions vary. Even when the country remains the same, the region, producer, variety or flavour profile may change over time. Often twice or three times a year.

What does this coffee taste like?

Black fruits, molasses, spice, treacle with a dark chocolate finish

Why do Single Origin coffees taste different?

Flavour is influenced by origin, altitude, climate, soil, coffee variety, processing method, harvest conditions and roasting. These variables can create noticeable differences in sweetness, acidity, body and aroma.

mycuppa uses a full cast iron coffee roaster for maximum flavor and sweetness

Why our coffees are different

Our custom SUPA-ROASTA is a one-of-a-kind, fully cast-iron platform using the most advanced computer controls for ultra-precise roasting of the best-tasting coffees.
These days, complete cast-iron roasting systems are extremely rare. Only cast-iron platforms can impart that highly desirable soft, moist heat into the coffee beans.
Would the best chefs and BBQ experts cook their culinary delights on Stainless, Alloy or Mild Steel or Air ?
Nope, neither would we.
mycuppa's SUPA-ROASTA creates coffees with smooth, rich, high-flavoured tastes, full and syrupy body, fine acidity and of course our trademark long, sweet finish.
Nothing compares.

Why roasting with Cast Iron is best

how we roast your coffee

Roasting coffee is a precise science. These days, computer profiles perform most of the automated tasks for controlling a roast profile. However, through better quality control via tasting, testing and optimization, we can make a big difference to the finished product through setting special parameters.

Click on the "+" symbols to learn more about how we roast your coffees.

mycuppa explains the delicate balance when roasting coffees for exceptional flavors

Roast Balance

Roast depth is a moving target for most coffee brands. It can depend upon the individual lot being roasted, ambient conditions (hot or cold) and the target brew application.

Our roast depth always targets medium (except for filter roast products that are roasted lighter).

Our medium-level roast is a combination of many factors, such as the balance of flavour, sweetness and acidity.

Roasting too far in one direction tends to pull or detract from other attributes.

Roast Profile

Our roast profile has evolved and optimized over the last 20 years.

Not much has changed in the last few years as the level of quality has essentially maintained at a consistently high range.

We roast for a medium level that takes all of the attributes into consideration - flavour, complexity, sweetness, acidity, body, aroma and finish.

Our roast profile could be described as carefully cautious - unwilling to push into zones that create an unbalanced cup taste.

Colour

Roast color is an outdated metric which no longer applies to quality coffees.

The external color of a roasted coffee bean bares little resemblance to how that coffee was actually roasted.

In the past, coffee was segmented as light, medium or dark. But those motifs did not sufficiently encompass the number of variations possible.

The external shade of a roasted coffee is more influenced by the brix (sugars) of the bean, e.g. higher brix levels may present or display darker shades of brown when roasted.

The processing method also plays a role in determining the final colour. Washed coffees are darker in shade, as are Decaf coffees, while naturals display a lighter and mottled appearance.

The roast profile also impacts the finished colour. A lighter-colored coffee may have been roasted poorly, having baked or stalled with darker internal colours.

Similarly, a lighter external color might hide the darker internals from scorching or rapid roasting using an invalid profile.

Dark does not mean stronger. In fact, dark is weaker as acid and caffeine levels decline.

Acidity

Acidity is perhaps one of the most complex and mis-understood attributes of roasted coffee.

Acidity is a fundamental requirement for flavor, in fact acidity is the pathway of flavor compounds.

Customers often ask for low—or zero-acid coffees. However, those coffees with very low acidity typically display dull, mediocre, and boring cup elements.

Australian coffee drinkers are predominantly milk or dairy alternative drinkers. In fact 93% of coffee drinkers add something else to the coffee besides sugar.

Acids are mostly grouped as citric or malic. When coffee is roasted well, the acidity should result in delicious sweetness.

However, the extraction or brew process can also affect the taste.

See how our coffees are roasted so beautifully

Whole bean coffee stays fresher for much longer than ground coffees

Ground coffee is poor value

Whole beans are the only way to enjoy freshly roasted coffee.

The moment coffee beans are ground, most of the essential, active compounds in ground coffee oxidize rapidly, losing vitality, aroma, flavour and body.

Ground coffee barely lasts 15 minutes; even sealed packs lose more than 80% of the critical essence in 2 weeks.

Unfortunately, once you open and close that pack, it's game over, and the ground coffee continues to stale at 20x the rate of whole beans inside of a sealed, unopened pack.

If you love coffee, please don't waste money buying pre-ground packs; you only get a small part of the wonderful coffee experience.

Buy a decent grinder and purchase whole beans; it makes a huge difference in aroma, flavour, and enjoyment.

Looking for something else ?

Try some of our most popular coffees.

A table comparing the facets of 5 products
Facet	Suuweet View details	Santosa Organic View details	Espresso Coffee Blend View details	Barista Coffee Blend View details	Centre Way Coffee Blend View details
Price
Price	Regular priceFrom $26.00 AUD	Regular priceFrom $27.00 AUD	Regular priceFrom $26.00 AUD	Regular priceFrom $26.00 AUD	Regular priceFrom $27.00 AUD
Taste
Taste	Nut, vanilla, caramel, raisin and a chocolate finish	Balanced cup with notes of caramel, toffee, honey and dark chocolate	High flavoured, cherry, nut, blackcurrant, sweet fruits, long dark chocolate finish	Caramel. honey, nuts and chocolate.	Nut, cherry, vanilla and dark chocolate
Intensity
Intensity	8	8	8	8	8