In the past, Bali coffees have been hit-or-miss, usually suffering from transport damage (being held up in sweltering port cities). The quality has improved dramatically lately, and there is coffee available from small-holder farmer groups in Bali that belong to cooperative mills. These are called Subak Abian groups in Bali, and are actually a combined coffee coop and Hindu religious group, ruled democratically by a communally written set of rules called an "awig-awig." The basic guiding philosophy of the Subak Abian is called the "Three Happy Causes" (Tri Hita Karana) which stresses the importance of religion to man, to other men, and to the environment. Kintamani is basically the highlands of volcanic Bali, at the top of the island in the mountainous area. We have offered wet-hulled Bali coffee that bears a greater resemblence to the earthy lots from Sumatra and Sulawesi, but Blue Krishna is a fully wet-processed coffee. Wet-process is actually the tradition on Bali, as opposed to other islands of Indonesia, and they are quite good at it. The preparation of this lot is excellent, and just because it has a brighter, cleaner cup profile does not mean it lacks Indonesia origin character. The dry fragrance from a light City + roast is attractively fruited with tamarind and peach-mango hints. The wet aromatics are floral, and the sweet mango note still comes through. On the break, it's mildly nutty and there's a bit of foresty earth that comes through; that Indonesia character. The cup is so much brighter and high-toned than other coffees from the region, it's hard to compare them. It definitely has the fruit flavors found in Java, Timor and Flores coffees, but bears little resemblance to Sulawesi or Sumatra coffees (except for the rare wet-process coffees from those origins). The body is viscous, and nut flavors dominate the roast (although they turn to a soft milk chocolate at Full City roast levels). There are herbal and floral flavors, wildflowers, and a bit of sage and sweet basil.

Bali coffees are hit and miss in the past, usually suffering from transport damage (being held up in sweltering port cities). And they have also been, as a tradition, fully wet-processed. That means lower intensity, lighter body, and a very mild character; not things that people look for in Indonesian coffees like Sulawesi and Sumatra. There's a larger plantation, Shinzan, that has been the only mark available for some time, but there are also small-holder farms in Bali that belong to cooperative mills. These are called Subak Abian groups in Bali, and are actually a combined coffee coop and Hindu religious group, ruled democratically by a communally written set of rules called an "awig-awig." The basic guiding philosophy of the Subak Abian is called the "Three Happy Causes" (Tri Hita Karana) which stresses the importance of religion to man, to other men, and to the environment. Kintamani is basically the highlands of volcanic Bali, at the top of the island in the mountainous area. These coop groups have had trouble reaching a market for their coffee. The suggestion was, "why not do a more Sumatra-type process", something they call "wet-hulled," rather than a wet-process, to result in a cup with more Indonesia character. In this process, the coffee cherry is depulped out of it's skin, washed for a short time, then hulled when the coffee is dried to just 30-40% moisture (usually coffee is hulled out of the parchment shell only after it is dried to 12% moisture and the bean is hard). Then the green bean coffee is dried on raised beds. And that's why there is that Indonesia-type cup profile in this Bali coffee. We recommend darker roast levels, Full City+ . The dry fragrance was surprisingly sweet, with caramel-laced cookie character. The wet aromatics are more dark chocolaty, laced with peppery spice and melony fruit. The cup has fruit-infused chocolate, and a thick creamy body. The acidity is low, extremely low, and the finish remains fruity although the chocolate softens to a milk Swiss Cocoa tone. I get raisiny notes as the cup flavors fade.