Steeped in exotic allure. unconventional processing methods and wild aromatic coffees, the rugged volcanic regions of the Pacific "Ring of Fire" have captivated coffee professionals for generations. Sumatra, Java, Flores, Sulawesi and Papua New Guinea are among the most notable coffee-producing islands in the region, famous for cultivating exceptional, high-grown, traditionally wet hulled or semi-washed coffees. These coffees are often ideal for darker roast applications-bold and sweet Italian-style espressos and exotically pungent single-origin features.
Exceptional diversity of both arabica and robusta varieties proliferate throughout the Indonesian island archipelago, producing coffees with a wide variety of sensory profiles, Among these islands, however, is one that is not as well recognized, a lesser known origin that is equally, if not more, important. This island is home to a unique coffee variety that since its discovery has made significant impact on the modern history of coffee genetics and the entire commercial coffee industry.Â
Timor-Leste is an extremely remote small island nation situated 450 miles northwest of Darwin, Australia. It is home to over 1 million people, a diverse natural ecosystem with a variety of micro-climates and a unique coffee variety that is native only to this remote island: Hibrido De Timor.Â
Originally discovered in 1927 and named by researchers as HT CIFC 4106. Today, it is most commonly known as HdT or simply Timor Hybrid. It has been growing wild in the dense forests of Timor-Leste for centuries. While not well known among the younger generation of specialty coffee professionals it has been used by local inhabitants in traditional coffee ceremonies for generations.
HdT is a rare and unique interspecific hybrid of the species (Robusta) Coffea Canephora and (Arabica) Coffea Arabica. It is almost unheard of to find a spontaneous, natural occurrence like this between two coffee species that have seemingly incompatible genetics. In addition, robusta is a diploid (with two sets of chromosomes, for a total of 22), while arabica is a tetraploid (with four sets for a total of 44), which makes the existence of this variety even more mysterious.
Exactly what caused this anomalous hybridization to occur is hard to say; however, natural adaptation and environmental strain likely played primary roles in the evolution of this hybrid. HdT exhibits resiliency to heat, drought and other environmental challenges, making it an excellent candidate for further research to evaluate possible applications in climate-strained growing regions. Which are becoming more and more common.Â
Consequently, HdT is the proud grandparent to some of the world's leading drought-, fungus- and borer- resistant cultivars, including Catimor, Sarchimor and others. HdT's natural adaptability and value as an important genetic resource for coffee cultivation in the face of a global climate crisis make it a critical asset to help chart a secure and stable future for the coffee industry. Beyond its numerous genetic wonders, HdT offers exciting and interesting sensory characteristics in the cup.Â
As a direct relative to Robusta, HdT contains significantly more Chlorogenic acid than that of pure Arabica cultivars. Chlorogenic Acid has been shown to be the primary pre-cursor of the development of Carbon dioxide (CO2) during the roast process.Â
An exciting result of higher Chlorogenic acid content occurs specifically in espresso extraction. During roasting, two byproducts are produced (among numerous others) of the Maillard reaction; water (H2O) and Carbon Dioxide (CO2). The CO2 gas produced in this process is trapped within the coffees fibrous structure and lipid (fat) molecules. Over time, these gas molecules slowly move out of the lipids and dissipate into the atmosphere. This is known as "degassing," (I wrote and entire article on this very topic) and is responsible for the production of Crema - that delicious tawny foam we all know and love in Espresso.
During an espresso extraction, the CO2 being "degassed" is forced back into solution at high pressure, then quickly comes back out of solution in that resultant layer of creamy goodness we all love and cherish. Because of higher CO2 production resulting from increased ChlorogenÃc acid, along with an increase in retained CO2 in higher-lipid-content coffees (arabica has a higher lipid content than robusta), the gas ends up trapped in the coffee for longer periods of time, which can lead to increases in crema production during extraction.
Having both robusta-based and arabica-based attributes, HdT offers a unique combination of espresso-centric characteristics, creating a one-of-a-kind coffee with immense potential across a variety of applications within the industry. Over the years, many coffee companies have recognized and explored the potential of HdT and other coffees endemic to Timor-Leste. However, they have been faced with challenges to making significant improvements for increased trade and export.
In 2017, it was my distinct honor to participate as an international juror at the country's second annual coffee quality competition. With more than 52 samples from 14 regions, the coffees scored just at the specialty mark (80 points, per Specialty Coffee Association cupping and scoring protocol), with a top score of 83.44. However, it was not the coffee that spoke to me, but rather the potential each of these coffees had to become spectacular with the implementation of improved quality measures.Â
The massive logistic and infrastructure challenges presented to the Timorese coffee industry are formidable, to say the least. However, with the appropriate support and a great deal of hard work, Timorese coffee easily could become an exceptional gem of the Pacific. Not only for its unique cup, but also for its environmental resilience and positive social and economic impacts for the people of Timore-Leste.Â
The coffee we are currently featuring is a testament to what I experienced in 2017 and flawlessly showcases the potential I saw back then as a spectacular coffee. We are thrilled to offer this to you so you too can experience the magic of this exotic origin.Â
