As we open the first chapter of World in a Cup, our journey begins in the remote, mountainous region of Aceh in northern Sumatra. A landscape dense with rainforest, steeped in biodiversity, and home once again to one of the most distinctive coffees we’ve ever offered: Sumatra Hutan.
For us at H.R. Higgins, this coffee is more than just a returning favourite. It’s a bold and expressive introduction to the kind of origin stories we want to tell — full of character, rooted in place, and reflective of the hands that bring them to life.
David Higgins recalls first tasting this coffee at DRWakefield’s offices, noting its “arresting, deep, earthy flavour and syrupy body.” It stood apart — not just because of its strength, but because of its complexity. With each sip, new details emerged: dark fruit, warming spice, and a tropical sweetness that lingers long after the cup is finished.
Hutan, meaning "forest" in Indonesian, captures the spirit of where this coffee is grown. The Gayo Highlands are rich in natural beauty, and the smallholder farmers who cultivate these beans work in harmony with their surroundings. Using traditional Giling Basah (wet hulling), they produce a coffee that is utterly Sumatran — rustic, round, and full of depth.
Sumatra Hutan is bold. Not brash, but confident. It brews beautifully across several methods, from cafetière to filter, and even as a punchy espresso. Its structure also means it stands up well with milk, though it loses none of its power served black.
It’s a coffee with real presence — and for us, the perfect way to begin this journey. Over the coming months, World in a Cup will take us to other remarkable places. But it starts here, in the shadow of the rainforest.
And we’re delighted to bring it back.
