Indonesia – ELB GR3 350/450 BC

Origin: Southern Sumatra (Lampung, Bengkulu, South Sumatra)

Profile: Rugged, Earthy, and Intense

Indonesia ELB GR3 350/450 BC is a cornerstone of the global espresso industry. This coffee comes from the “Golden Triangle” of Indonesian Robusta production in Southern Sumatra. To understand this bean, you have to decode the technical grading:

ELB (Ekstra Large Bean): These are the largest beans sorted from the harvest, generally equivalent to Screen 18/19.
GR3 (Grade 3): This indicates the defect count. In the Indonesian system, Grade 3 is a commercial-standard grade that allows for a specific range of physical imperfections while maintaining flavor integrity.
350/450: This refers to the defect tolerance (between 350 and 450 defect points per 300g sample), typical for large-scale industrial roasting.
BC (Blue Chip): A quality designation indicating that the coffee is from a reliable, consistent region known for “Blue Chip” reliability in the trade.

Flavour Experience

Body: Exceptionally heavy and “oily.” It produces a massive, dense crema that is almost impossible to break.
Notes: Strong dark chocolate, roasted grain, and the classic Indonesian earthy/woody spice. It has a “pungent” quality that cuts through any amount of milk.
Acidity: Negligible. It is entirely focused on deep, bass-heavy notes.
Finish: Long, smoky, and bittersweet, with a hint of charred cedar.

Best Enjoyed As

This is the “anchor” bean for traditional, high-intensity blends:

Traditional Italian Espresso: Used at 20–40% to provide the “bite” and the thick, mahogany crema that consumers associate with a “strong” espresso.
Instant Coffee Production: Due to its high soluble solids and intense flavor, it is a favorite for spray-dried or freeze-dried coffee.
Market-Stall Roasts: Its “Ekstra Large” size makes it very visually appealing in bins for whole-bean retail.

The “Sumatra” Character

Indonesian Robusta is famous for being “wilder” than Vietnamese Robusta. While Vietnam is clean and nutty, Lampung (ELB) coffee is more complex and earthy. The natural processing in the humid Indonesian climate gives it a “heavy” sweetness that can taste almost like molasses or dark sugar when roasted correctly.

Quick Comparison: Indonesia ELB vs. Vietnam SCR 18

Feature	Indonesia ELB GR3	Vietnam SCR 18 (Clean)
Bean Size	Very Large / Bold	Large / Uniform
Profile	Earthy & Spicy	Nutty & Chocolatey
Crema	Maximum / Dark	High / Golden
Character	Rustic & Wild	Clean & Modern