Bali isn’t very well known for its coffees, perhaps because large producers like Java and Sumatra are closeby. However markets have different varietals for sale and what locals tend to keep the superior quality of the island (or its just trick to sell more) is Bali gold.

Bali gold is mixture of different plantation in northern Bali but you can’t call it a blend, because there isn’t enough difference between the bean quality. Bali gold is not grown in the earthfills of volcano but the soil does have fertile features because of these large volcanos. Its dry processed Sumatra-style high quality coffee.

I was having a holiday in this January and long visit in Sumatra and Bali also gained results for coffee investigation. I didn’t manage to enjoy any Kintamani when staying in Bali but I bought some just before the departure.

Bali Kintamani is organic coffee grown in the northern parts of Bali in the highlands of Kintamani volcano. Kintamani is wet-processed coffee – unlike other stereotypical Indonesian coffees. That causes totally different taste and nose – almost uncomparable to other Indonesian brands.

The nose gives well balanced super soft earthy flavour, if you smell it precise enough you can notice Kintamani greeting you by saying “good morning”.

Kopi Luwak is propably the most mysterious and famous brand of coffee in the market. The prices have been as high as 2000 USD a kilo since early 90’s. Japanese have bought this and other market is the United States. Kopi Luwak is coffee beans once eaten by Paradoxurus hermaphroditus. After the animal has eaten and defecating coffee berries they are washed and shipped to market. Kopi comes from the word coffee and luwak stands for that animal. It is told that the animal picks and eats only the best berries available and thats why kopi luwak is so great.