Indonesian wonderful taste of coffee

The Wonderful Taste of Coffee from Indonesia

Many people around the world today see coffee not just as a morning beverage, but as a valuable commodity. It has become a part of the individual’s culture; a lifestyle. Coffee is an essential part of the morning for many people around the world. Whether they’re enjoying a cheap instant coffee or something more sophisticated, coffee lovers usually start their day with a cup. Coffee first arrived in Indonesia in 1696 when the Dutch brought in Arabica coffee to plant and cultivate it in the Cibodas national park on the road to Puncak. This commodity became very popular in the Netherlands. The VOC exported the first batch of coffee from Indonesia in 1711, and the export grew rapidly to 60 tons per year in just 10 years’ time. In Indonesia, coffee is more than just a way of life. It has become an important commodity, and people there rely on it for their everyday needs. Indonesia is a major coffee producer, along with Brazil, Vietnam, and Colombia. Not only is Indonesians’ consumption of this food popular, but many Indonesians also make a living from producing it. Coffee is an essential part of many people’s lives, from farmers to traders.  Today coffee lovers from all over the archipelago come to get their hands on some of the best cups of Java out there.

1 | Balinese Kintamani Coffee

Bali is popular throughout the island chain for its coffee beans, which are produced in the cool mountain regions of Kintamani. Kintamani coffee is a unique Indonesian Arabica coffee that has a mild flavor, medium acidity, and fruity taste. The fruity taste in coffee comes from the beans being planted near fruits and vegetables, which helps the coffee beans absorb their flavor.

2 | Toraja Coffee

The people of Tana Toraja in Sulawesi are experts at cultivating the exquisite Toraja coffee beans. Toraja Coffee is a coffee from the highlands of South Sulawesi that has a robust flavor with a deep body and a nuanced sweetness and chocolate undertones. The Toraja people produce two types of beans: Arabica beans, which are more common, and Robusta beans, which are more robust. A cup of Torajan coffee is described as deep and complex with musty fruit notes and a rustic sweetness. This type of coffee is perfect for people who don’t like the bitterness of coffee because the bitter aftertaste disappears after the first sip, leaving a pleasant sensation on your tongue.

3 | Aceh Gayo Coffee

Everyone in Aceh knows the Gayo coffee grown in the Central Aceh Gayo highlands in the north-most part of Sumatra. Other than its being fun to say “gayo”, coffee is one of the most popular beverages in the nation. Although both Arabica and Robusta beans are grown as Gayo coffee, the most popularly consumed and exported type is Arabica Gayo. The flavor profile of a cup of Gayo Arabica is intense and complex. Its strong aroma and mild bitterness make it a perfect blend of gourmet coffee.

4 | Flores Bajawa Coffee

Flores is known for its beautiful natural surroundings and being the home of the “hobbit” ancestors. Who would have guessed that this amazing region also produces some of the best coffee beans in the world? Flores is an island in the chain of islands that runs west to east between Bali and Timor. Bajawa is a town located on the southern coast of Sulawesi, in the highlands where coffee is grown. The traditional cultivation process of this Arabica type of coffee is passed down from generation to generation using methods that are traditional. The coffee’s aroma is characterized by the strong scent of flowers, chocolate, earthiness, and sometimes of moist tobacco. The product is made using a wet-hulled process, resulting in a thick body and unique flavor with a pleasing aroma found only in this region.

5 | Kopi Luwak

Kopi Luwak is a type of coffee that is very expensive in Indonesia. The history and origins of Kopi Luwak are just as interesting as its unique flavor profile.   The beans are then collected, cleaned and processed by coffee farmers. The fermentation process in the civet cat’s stomach breaks down the coffee protein and removes the harsh aftertaste, altering the flavor to smooth, earthy, and nutty. Its low acidity makes it easy to drink for persons with stomach ulcers or digestive difficulties because it goes down smoothly.

So, how much would you pay for a cup of this strange but delicious concoction?

Bonus:

We can’t seem to end the article on that final note. There is one more type of Indonesian coffee that you must sample at least once in your life. Yes, the tales about Sumatra being a coffee plantation paradise are true. Sidikalang Coffee from North Sumatra is another hidden gem on the island for coffee connoisseurs.

Kopi Sidikalang has a powerful aroma and flavor, with a spicy finish similar to Lintong Nihuta. It has a low acidity and a chocolatey flavor, and it is finest served tubruk style — or just black without sugar. Come to the Njuah Njuah Festival in Lake Toba in North Sumatra from September 26 to September 30, 2016 to marvel at local culture while sipping a strong hot mug of authentic Sidikalang coffee.

Leave a Reply