We’re Back

A busy fall planting and processing season has kept us in the fields and away from the computers. We’ve been enjoying some great growing conditions and bountiful harvests.

                                Rushing to and from the farm on Mariah Dolok

Leo has also been busy working with local Direct Trade partners to improve crop maintenance techniques and grow organically. Things are changing in Simalungun North Sumatra, for the better.

                                 Organic Sigara Rutang Shaded Arabica

A trip to USA in late summer to visit some specialty coffee roasters was highlighted by new friendships and GREAT coffee. Our facebook page will soon share links to coffee shops you may want to check out.

                             Coffee roasting is an art when you care about flavor.

Please visit us at lisaandleosorganic.net to read more about our region and the coffees available from North Sumatra Indonesia. Our dot com site is under construction for eCommerce and will be ready later this year. We will feature Chemex and Hario products along with our own roasted kopi luwak coffee.

Summertime Sensations

Cold brew coffees are gaining popularity in specialty roast coffee shops across America. We looked at some cold brew equipment and discovered a new way to enjoy our favorite arabicas. Just chill. This beauty makes 25 cups! You can use the same idea and make cold brew coffee at home.

Leo Loves Coffee mixed with ice cream, here is one of his favorite summer drinks from our friends at Macehat in Medan. Of course, summertime means grilling great food to go with those iced coffees. We love Satay!!

Don’t forget to try iced coffee at home this summer. You can create great coffee ice cream drinks  for cooling down and chilling out.

Look for home brewing equipment on our ecommerce site. Going Live this fall. We will have great coffee recipes and brewing guides too.

Single Origin Coffee

This term, mainly used by growers and roasters, describes a coffee variety that is from one specific geographic region. True single origin coffee has a distinctive flavor characteristic that makes it identifiable and sought after. You really can taste the difference in the cup.

Our coffee is considered single origin estate because all our beans are grown on the same farm. We represent other growers in the region who have micro-lots of organic arabica that are high quality single origin variety.

When single origin beans are roasted by an experienced roaster, their true taste nuances become the flavor and aroma signature of the geographic regions the beans are grown in. Just like single estate wines, single origin coffees offer a signature taste you can appreciate and enjoy.

Look for it at your favorite roaster today, find out what you’ve been missing. You may never go back to blended coffee.

French Press for Two

The French Press has been around a long time for a reason, it is an excellent way to brew coffee. Water temperature 92C, poured slowly over your grinds. Wait about 3 minutes for the brew to develop and the crema to form. My favorite way to enjoy a coffee is the french press. Each of us has our own particular way to tweak the prep to make it our own. Here in Sumatra, a bold coffee goes well with a local delicacy, Lapis Legit or layer cake. This is Leo’s fave.

Ben and Jeri

In Indonesia the civet (chi-vet) is known as the luwak. Luwaks are unique animals. These little animals are the source of some of the finest coffee in the world. Leo and I have adopted two siblings we have named ben and jeri. These little guys are now part of our home in Seribu Dolok. They already trust leo completely and will eat out of his hand and allow him to pet them. Luwaks are nocturnal animals, so it is hard to get good pics of them at night. Oshin is still trying to figure them out. Daisy just knows they don’t eat any of HER food, so she is cool with them.

Crossing Toba Lake to Samosir

New Roads on The Mountainside to encourage tourism in the area

Tele Mountainside and Toba Lake Valley

new Arabica plants

view from across the lake

ferry to samosir island

Selamat Datang-Welcome

Tele Valley Neighbors

Road winds up the mountain; Altitude 3000ft

Ahhh Arabica, home at last

ferry station coffee break

Each day the Ferry brings visitors to Samosir Island from the larger surrounding Island of Sumatra. Many People in the village come into the ferry station for a coffee and a smoke and the latest news. Take a ride with us across Lake Toba to our future home of Tele, Samosir Island Sumatra. Selamat-Datang everyone.

 

Selamat Datang-Welcome

ferry to samosir island

 

ferry station coffee break

The Graduate

Finally the big day has arrived. The little ones are ready to leave the nest and go out on their own. This doesn’t mean you are FREE…..Oh no you are still there to provide security and shelter and the occasional sprinkle of water (advice or bail money, whichever is needed). But you are so proud, and excited by the promise of the future.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All the best to our son Wade, a writer and a friend. Your future is bright and full of promise.

Thanks for all your hard work on the seedbed and nursery. Time to watch things grow.(and get published!)

 

Logo Lore

Our logo features a traditional Batak home icon. We want to bring recognition to the region we call home. We chose this icon to link us specifically to the Sumatran Islands of Indonesia that our coffee represents. The culture and heritage of the Batak people on the Sumatran Islands is one of persistence and patience, important qualities in coffee farmers. The style of the home reflects the lifestyle and weather of island life.  You won’t find these homes any where else in Indonesia. The coffee rich highlands of the Sumatran mountain ranges contain few of these Batak villages now. We found a few during our research and decided this would be our icon for Lisa and Leo’s.

Coffee Weaver

The coffee rich islands of Sumatra are filled with craftsmen and women. The ancient art of hand loom weaving is used to make an important item in the Batak culture. The Ulos, worn to identify your family clan (and marital status) at parties and events. The Ulos is also an art form, colorful and lively patterns echo the same bold rich flavors that distinguish the coffee and cuisine of Sumatra.

 

What are you drinking?

It looks like coffee, it smells okay and with extra creamer and another sugar it’s drinkable. Sound familiar? Why settle for the sludge when you can enjoy a flavorful cup of quality brew for only pennies more, even in the workplace. We don’t mean that fancy takeout cup either.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The words “Specialty Coffee” can send all kinds of messages, the one we want you to focus in on is “coffee”, sure you only drink coffee for the caffeine right? Ever wonder why you need so many cups to get you going? The average supermarket coffee is a blend of coffee beans and other fillers and flavorings that create a weak cup of coffee. When you purchase Specialty Coffee beans and have them ground or better yet grind them yourself, you get the full punch of the caffeine and a much more flavorful cup of coffee or expresso.

The average caffeine content for arabica beans is less than 1%, while robusta has an average of 2%. After the manufacturer has blended the beans with fillers and flavorings (coffee is sold by weight) your caffeine content has just dropped below 1% and your coffee flavor is barely there and replaced with something unrecognizable yet vaguely familiar. Don’t settle for ordinary. Try Lisa and Leo’s Organic Arabica Coffee.