Sumatra Lintong Coffee
Cedar, dark chocolate and molasses from the highlands above Lake Toba.
A full-bodied Lintong coffee from the highlands near Lake Toba in North Sumatra. Low in acidity and rich in earthy depth, it tastes of cedar, dark chocolate, dried herbs and molasses. Brewed in a French press at 93°C.
Sensory profile
You should taste
How it unfolds
Where it sits
That is 86 mg in one serving (8 oz cup (240ml)), a concentration of 35.8 mg per 100 ml. The scale above ranks whole servings, and servings differ in size, so a larger drink can sit further right while being weaker cup for cup.
Editorial estimate, not a laboratory measurement
Related gear
| Brewing method | French Press |
|---|---|
| Coffee-to-water ratio | 1:17 |
| Dose & yield | 14.4g → 240g |
| Grind size | Medium-coarse |
| Water temperature | 199°F / 93°C |
| Target brew time | 4:00 |
| Serving | 8 oz cup (240ml) |
What you need
- 14.4 g whole coffee beans, freshly roasted
- 240 g filtered water at 93°C
Required gear
- French press
- Burr grinder
- Kettle
- Scale
- Timer
- Long spoon for the crust
Step-by-step protocol
- 0:00Pre-heat the press, then add 14.4 g ground medium-coarse.
- 0:00Pour 240 g of water at 93°C in one go and start the timer. Fit the lid without plunging.
- 4:00Break the crust with a spoon and skim off the foam and floating grounds.
- 4:00Press slowly — if it resists, stop pressing rather than forcing it.
- 4:05Decant every drop immediately into a warmed vessel. Coffee left on the grounds keeps extracting.
What it may be good for
The caffeine count
We list about 86 mg for an 8 oz cup.
Lintong or Mandheling?
If you like Sumatran coffee, try both side by side. Lintong is often a little cleaner and spicier, while Mandheling is often earthier and heavier. Brew them the same way and compare.
What to watch out for
- Caffeine affects everyone differently. If you are pregnant or nursing, sensitive to caffeine, or have been told to limit it, check with your doctor about how much is right for you.
A full-bodied Lintong coffee from the highlands near Lake Toba in North Sumatra. Low in acidity and rich in earthy depth, it tastes of cedar, dark chocolate, dried herbs and molasses. Brewed in a French press at 93°C.
Origin & Story
Lake Toba, in North Sumatra, is the largest volcanic lake in the world, a vast blue basin left by an ancient eruption. On the hills to its south-west, in the Humbang Hasundutan regency, is a highland district called Lintong Nihuta, and its name has become the name of a coffee.
Lintong is a trade name for coffee from this part of the island, not a variety. The farms lie at roughly 1,200 to 1,500 meters, and several districts around Lintong Nihuta, among them Dolok Sanggul, Paranginan and Pollung, supply coffee under the same name.
Compared with Mandheling, which is grown over a broader area further south, Lintong comes from a smaller, more clearly defined district, and its cup is often described as a little cleaner: cedar, dark chocolate and baking spice, with a medium-to-full body and low-to-medium acidity.
Like most Sumatran coffee it is wet-hulled. The parchment is taken off while the bean is still wet, and the bean dries bare, which is why Sumatran beans look blue-green and why the cup is low in acidity and full in body. Here that comes through as dried herbs and molasses beneath the chocolate.
A French press shows off that body. Press it with 14.4 g of medium-coarse coffee in 240 ml of water at 93°C after four minutes.
Reading the Flavor Profile
| Axis | Score |
|---|---|
| Sweetness | 80/100 |
| Acidity | 30/100 |
| Bitterness | 38/100 |
| Body | 86/100 |
| Aroma | 82/100 |
These values are comparative editorial positions within our own catalog, calibrated so entries can be ranked against each other. They are not laboratory measurements.
How much caffeine is in Sumatra Lintong Coffee?
One serving, 8 oz cup (240ml), contains approximately 86 mg of caffeine.
What temperature should I use for Sumatra Lintong Coffee?
Target 93°C (199°F).
How long should Sumatra Lintong Coffee be extracted?
Timing: 4:00. Method: French Press. Ratio: 60g coffee per Liter of water. Grind or leaf format: Medium-coarse.
Where does Lintong coffee come from?
From the highlands south-west of Lake Toba in North Sumatra, in the Humbang Hasundutan regency, where farms grow coffee at roughly 1,200 to 1,500 meters.
Why does Sumatran coffee look blue-green?
Because of wet-hulling. The parchment is removed while the bean is still wet, and the bare bean dries in the open, which gives it a distinctive blue-green color.
Who should avoid Sumatra Lintong Coffee?
Caffeine affects everyone differently. If you are pregnant or nursing, sensitive to caffeine, or have been told to limit it, check with your doctor about how much is right for you. This information is educational and is not medical advice. If you are pregnant or breastfeeding, managing a cardiac or gastrointestinal condition, or taking prescription medication, discuss caffeine and botanical intake with a qualified healthcare professional before making changes.
What people say
Bodum Chambord French Press
In this recipe: French press
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