Indonesia aims to boost global Gayo coffee supply via major expansion

The initiative targets 17,000 hectares of smallholder plantations to boost yield and stabilize the supply chain for one of the world’s most prized specialty coffees.

“We are providing a total of 17,000 hectares with 17 million coffee seedlings for all of Aceh,” Agriculture Minister Andi Amran Sulaiman said during a working visit to a coffee nursery in Bener Meriah Regency.

“God willing, we will increase this next year, as long as it is well maintained.”

Gayo coffee, cultivated in the rugged volcanic highlands of northern Sumatra, is highly sought after by global roasters for its distinctive heavy body, low acidity, and complex flavor profile.

However, underperforming smallholder yields and aging trees have frequently limited export capacities.

By standardizing and distributing high-quality seeds, the Ministry of Agriculture aims to elevate domestic production standards, protect the coffee’s premium status, and establish Aceh as a modernized, globally recognized cultivation hub.

The minister hinted at additional development funds for next year if local farmers successfully nurture the current phase of crops.

“We are delivering Gayo coffee, and it has now gone global,” Sulaiman added. “So, how can we make Gayo coffee shake the world? If necessary, let the whole world taste Gayo coffee.”

Translator: Muhammad Harianto, Yashinta Difa