Discovering the Heart of Toraja Coffee
It was an early start for the day as we climbed onto the sturdy Toyota Hilux and rambled our way up the hilly terrains of Toraja, still draped in mist.
This wasn’t a sightseeing trip. Our purpose was clear - to experience coffee at its source. To see, smell, and understand it in the place where it’s born, and to explore how these exceptional beans could reach coffee lovers around the world.
Our journey led us to Dusun Bamba, deep in Rantepao, where we met an extraordinary community—the Tali Barani coffee farmers.
Tali Barani Farmers
Tali Barani is a flagship project by Credit Union Sauan Sibarrung (CU Sauan Sibarrung) in Tana Toraja, Indonesia. Spanning 5.5 hectares across seven locations, the Tali Barani farms are owned and cultivated by a small community of Torajan farmers, who are cooperative members of CU Sauan Sibarrung.
Under the empowerment and mentorship program of CU Sauan Sibarrung, the Tali Barani coffee farmers are bridged with subject expertise and trained in all aspects of farm management, from cultivation, harvesting, sorting, to post-harvest processing. CU Sauan Sibarrung also provides opportunities for members to connect and learn from one another, and provide specialised guidance on their farms where possible.
Today, we have the privilege of meeting one of the Tali Barani farmers - the family of Ibu Damaris Reken.
Meeting Ibu Damaris Reken and her family at the plantation and tasting freshly brewed coffee (kopi tubruk) at its source!
Under the shade of this makeshift hut where Ibu Damaris and her family tenders over their coffee plant, we had the opportunity to learn and share ideas about all aspects of coffee cultivation: cultivation, pruning of the coffee plant, processing methods, post-harvest care, and the possibilities of export.
For the farmers, it was a chance to share their story directly with someone from the industry.
Learning about farm management from Pak Andarias Randa.
Choosing the best seedling for cultivation.
For us, it was a chance to connect with the people whose dedication, skill, and heritage shape every bean of coffee they harvest.
Sorting through the beans to ensure the quality and consistency.
What impressed us too was CU Sauan Sibarrung’s vision and dedication to the Torajan community. More than a savings and loans cooperative, they are a bridge - linking farmers to global markets and proving that with the right support, local passion can become an international success.
Thank you to the CU Sauan Sibarrung team - Pengurus Bidang Pemberdayaan Syrilus T. Tandioga, Koordinator Pendamping TP Sanggalangi’ Andarias Randa, Deputy Pemberdayaan, two KP staff, and the TP Sanggalangi’ Manager for arranging this visit.
And our deepest appreciation to Ibu Damaris Reken for hosting us at her farm and feeding us so well with her home-cooked Torajan lunch!
Leaving Dusun Bamba, we carried more than memories. We carried a deep conviction that Torajan coffee, grown in these rich highlands and nurtured by devoted hands, deserves to be savored far beyond Indonesia’s shores.
And we are determined to help make that happen.
The Tani Barani Collective is now available via Nesaterra Roastery in full-washed, honey, or natural process - each process producing beans with its unique notes.