Laughing Bird Coffee of the Month
July Coffee of the Month: Sulawesi – Tana Toraja.
This month’s featured coffee comes from one of the most ecologically and culturally unique places on Earth: the highlands of North Tana Toraja, South Sulawesi. Grown in volcanic soil, harvested by hand, and processed with traditional methods that respect both the environment and the people tending the land—this coffee is a celebration of sustainability from the ground up.
Origin Details
Region: North Tana Toraja, South Sulawesi, Indonesia
Grower: Smallholder farmers of Koperasi Puspeta Luwu
Altitude: 1,100–2,000 meters
Soil: Volcanic loam
Process: Wet-hulled (Giling Basah), sun dried
Roast Level: Medium-dark (right into second crack)
Tasting Notes
Full-bodied and low in acidity, this cup reveals a rich, layered profile of baker’s chocolate and roasted nuts, with a smooth, lingering finish. It’s comfort and complexity in perfect balance.
A Region Rooted in Tradition and Ecology
The Toraja highlands are not only visually stunning—with rice paddies ringed by mist-covered cliffs—they’re also a biodiversity hotspot. Coffee here is grown in harmony with the land, often beneath native shade trees, without heavy chemical inputs.
Local Torajan families manage small farms, usually under 3 acres, using generational knowledge to guide how they care for their land. Homes shaped like boats, a symbol of their seafaring heritage, still anchor their traditional villages.
Regenerative Practices, Not Just Buzzwords
Each farmer uses micro-mill processing: sorting cherries by hand, fermenting overnight, washing lightly, and sun drying on patios. This small-scale, low-impact approach conserves water, supports soil health, and reduces waste.
Instead of large commercial systems, the coffee takes a community-based route. Once semi-dried, it moves to a regional cooperative—Koperasi Puspeta Luwu—where it undergoes wet-hulling, a process unique to Indonesia. Though unorthodox, this technique minimizes water usage and produces the signature bluish bean and earthy complexity that Sulawesi is known for.
Strength in Community
Koperasi Puspeta Luwu has worked alongside farmers for nearly four decades, helping overcome rugged terrain and limited infrastructure. By centralizing processing and export logistics, they improve traceability, elevate quality, and return more earnings to producers through direct trade.
This model is not only more equitable—it’s more resilient. It gives smallholder growers access to global markets, while keeping ownership and decision-making in the hands of the communities themselves.
Why We Chose It
At Laughing Bird, we believe coffee should not just taste beautiful—it should do good. This Sulawesi offering supports sustainable livelihoods, honors traditional ecological knowledge, and carries the kind of integrity we seek in every partnership.
Every sip helps invest in better farming, cleaner practices, and stronger communities. That’s the future of coffee we want to be part of.