Indonesian Coffee Culture

Indonesian Coffee Culture

Indonesian coffee culture has a long history starting from the 16th century when the Dutch colonists arrived, introducing the coffee beans that are ingrained into their culture.

Coffee has grown to become a significant industry in Indonesia.

With many small farms growing and harvesting beans across the country, which has culminated into the country becoming the fourth-largest coffee producer in the world.

Arabica and Robusta varieties carry centre stage in the sector. The coffees of Java, Sumatra Mandheling, Toraja, Bali, and Flores are among the most well-known in Indonesia.

Source: https://12go.asia/en/indonesia/coffee-culture 

Indonesian Coffee’s Growing Regions

It’s easy to grow coffee almost anywhere across the islands of Indonesia because of its ideal climate rich volcanic soil.

What’s more is with most coffee farms being small and family run scattered across the islands. Making coffee growing in this part of the world feel like a deliberate practice of love as in Columbia.

Sumatra is the biggest coffee producing island, home to a variety of blends with unique flavour profiles:

• Karo: Imagine a coffee that’s rich and intense, that has the right amount of smokiness and a kick of spice.

• Lintong: I think this would be perfect for me. Not too heavy, not too light, this medium-bodied brew is smooth and reminds you of caramel and dark chocolate.

• Mandheling: Smooth and low acidity taste, with an aftertaste.

• Kerinci: Has an acidity that reminds you of citrus and dark berry flavours.

Source: https://12go.asia/en/indonesia/coffee-culture 

Bali may be known for its stunning beaches, but this tropical paradise also hides a secret: some of the world’s most incredible coffee! Most of the coffee here grows in the Kintamani highlands, right between two volcanoes, Mount Agung and Mount Batukaru. Imagine that view while you sip your cup.

Java island coffee is known for having hints of sweetness like molasses, clove, and figs. Thanks to a special washing process used on the island, it has a cleaner, sweeter taste compared to the earthy undertones of Sumatra.

Source: https://espressocoffeeguide.com/gourmet-coffee/asian-indonesian-and-pacific-coffees/indonesia-coffee/ 

Indonesian Coffee Varieties, read more here!

The Unique Flavors of Indonesian Coffee

Indonesia’s volcanic soil and tropical climate create a dreamland for coffee cultivation. This unique geography, along with diverse microclimates, fosters a range of Arabica and Robusta beans that have distinct flavour profiles.

A Spectrum of Tastes:

• Sumatra Mandheling: Low-acidity coffee from North Sumatra known for its chocolatey flavour with a hint of spice in the aroma.

• Java: This Java native coffee has been around since the Dutch colonial times, it has a nutty and spicy taste that’s surprisingly sweet.

• Sulawesi Toraja: Got from the Sulawesi’s highlands, this coffee is known for its smooth, creamy texture and low acidity just as you would have it from a French Press. The flavour profile offers a blend of dark chocolate, ripe fruit, and spices.

• Bali Kintamani: Grown in Bali’s Kintamani highlands, this coffee releases a floral aroma with hints of citrus and chocolate.

• Flores Bajawa: This complex and rich coffee from the Bajawa region offers a medium body with a sweet, fruity taste and nuttiness.

Brewing Methods for Indonesian Coffee

Indonesian coffee can be brewed even with the trusted Moka Pot, but the thing is, we didn’t fly all this way to drink coffee the regular way we normally do at home and everywhere else. Here are a few popular methods you might come across:

Kopi Tubruk, hard on the tongue, figuratively, and literally; a simple and strong brew where coarse ground coffee gets steeped into hot water, then strained with a special sieve. This traditional method results in a full-bodied cup with a kick that’ll leave you drinking like a local ASAP.

Siphon method, employs a vacuum pot that uses heat and pressure to brew the coffee. Not to mention, with the result that this creates a smooth and clean cup which leaves you with a sight to behold; coffee bubbling as it brews right before your eyes.

Indonesian Coffee Consumption – Specialty Coffee

Indonesian coffee offers two unique specialty brews:

• Kopi Luwak: Prepare for a conversation starter – Kopi Luwak, also known as “poo coffee.” This unique and expensive brew isn’t pricey because of the reason you’re thinking about but because of it only found in one country in the entire world but because of its unusual processing method. Civets: small mammal relatives of the mongoose, are responsible for the first stage.

They eat coffee cherries, their digestive systems break down the fruit flest but leaves the coffee beans mostly intact. These excreted beans are then collected, cleaned, and roasted.

This is the way to drink coffee, the Indonesian way.

While Kopi Luwak is widely available across Indonesia, the labour-intensive process of collection and cleaning contributes significantly to its high cost.

• Acehnese Coffee (Kopi Aceh): Originating from Aceh but found throughout Indonesia, this coffee is known for its bold, bitter taste and thick consistency.
• It’s often strained through a special cloth filter known as “sock” to create a smoother experience.

Indonesia’s Enduring Love Affair with Coffee

Coffee’s roots in Indonesian culture run deep, stretching back for centuries. Interactions are found in recordings from some of Indonesia’s oldest texts; the “Coffee garden” (or “Coffee River”).Where a Javanese king whose love for coffee proved a little too strong, and cost him his life.

This legend highlights the central role coffee has played in Indonesian life for generations. Chiefly today, that love affair continues, with coffee remaining an integral part of Indonesian culture and a cherished national drink.

In Indonesia, coffee brings people together: for family gatherings to business meetings, it is a symbol of friendship and hospitality.

Where sharing a cup, traditionally called “ngopi”, is a social ritual that sparks conversation and interaction.

This love of coffee inspires Indonesian artists and writers, and the cafes are creative spaces for them to relax, chat and find inspiration, something we hope to see mirrored in the Nigerian coffee scene.