Marjan Semelet, Aceh Red Bourbon – Wet Hulled Indonesia

Marjan - Aceh, Sumatra Award-Winning Coffee Producer

High in the rugged mountains of Aceh province, Sumatra, Marjan has been quietly revolutionizing coffee production on his 8-hectare farm overlooking Lake Tawar. Over the past three years, his exceptional coffees have consistently placed in the top 10 across multiple Indonesian specialty coffee competitions, earning him recognition as one of Sumatra's most innovative producers.

Marjan's reputation was built on his mastery of Sumatra's traditional wet-hulling process (giling basah), which creates the distinctive earthy, full-bodied profile that Sumatran coffees are famous for. His wet-hulled specialty Arabica lots showcase the unique terroir of Aceh's volcanic soil and tropical climate, delivering the characteristic herbal complexity and syrupy mouthfeel that specialty roasters prize.

But what sets Marjan apart is his willingness to experiment. In recent years, he has expanded beyond traditional processing to include natural and honey methods, carefully adapting these techniques to Aceh's humid climate. His honey-processed lots reveal surprising fruit-forward notes, while his naturals offer an exotic sweetness that challenges preconceptions about Sumatran coffee.