Some places in the world are just known for growing coffee, but equally, there are some parts of the world that you may not think of when it comes to being a coffee producer. One example of this is Indonesia.
Indonesia has been producing coffee for several years despite not being thought of as a significant player in worldwide coffee production. Thanks to the fact that it is much coveted and loved worldwide, they are now the third-largest exporter in the world.
The main reason for this is that the country has volcanic ash-rich soil, ideal growing conditions for coffee plants. Here they grow Java, Sumatra and Sulawesi.
Coffee production in Indonesia has grown and grown of late, and it is now in the top ten coffee producers in the world. Best of all, the majority of the coffee that is grown here is produced by landowners with smaller plots, often no more than 2.5 acres.
The methods used are traditional, and this has meant that the coffee that is grown in the country has a taste that reminds you just how gorgeous coffee can be.
Growing coffee in Indonesia
Whilst coffee is a significant export produced in Indonesia; the economy relies on several other exports too. This includes:
- Tea
- Tobacco
- Cloves
- Cinnamon
- Cardamom
- Nutmeg
- Cane Sugar
The coffee growing regions in Indonesia are typically thick and dense, with around 1,100 trees to 2,000 trees per hectare of land. They are known to be “shade-grown”, which means they grow at a much slower rate than other trees. While you may think that it is negative to have slow-growing trees, this can be good news for the plants themselves.
The slower that they grow, then the more time that the roots have to soak up nutrients. This means that when the time comes around to harvest, the beans are mature and will taste amazing.
The growing regions
One thing that is well known about growing coffee in Indonesia is that the taste and flavour will vary depending on the region that it is grown in. Each has its own climate and conditions that can impact the coffee plants, the beans, and the entire production process.
Bali is the part of the country known to grow coffee that is loved and adored around the world. This includes the most coveted coffee type, Kopi Luwak. Coffee from Bali is known to be silky with low acidity and comes with strong, woody tones running through it.
Another coffee-growing region is Flores Island. Known for its stunning mountain ranges, the fertile volcanic ash soil and 7,5000 feet altitude come together to make the ideal conditions for growing coffee. The coffee plants here are a crossbreed of Portuguese plants with Java seeds taken directly from the island of Java itself. Here the coffee is sweet with a mixture of chocolate, floral notes and earthy tones too.
Java is known to be the home of Indonesian coffee; however, despite its title, the coffee that is grown here is produced mainly on smaller farms. Volcanic soil with high altitudes allows the plants to naturally grow, soaking up a wealth of nutrients from the soil. This then translates into rich, full-bodied coffee and has dark chocolate and spicy chilli undertones. Coffee grown in Java is also known to have a thicker texture than other coffees in the area and has a slightly more acidic flavour.
Another thicker coffee is that grown in Papua. Here there is a natural shade canopy that covers the plants as they grow. This results in silky and syrupy coffee in texture and is the perfect combination of rich chocolate bases with sweet, spicy and maple-Esque upper notes.
If you prefer coffee that is sweet and spicy with deep, nutty tones, you will want to try Sulawesi coffee. This island is the eleventh largest in the world and is uniquely shaped. While this doesn’t have much impact on the coffee that is grown here, it has soaring mountain ranges, which means that this is the ideal place to naturally grow some delicious Arabica coffee, usually on small family-owned plots and farms.
Another large island (the sixth-largest in the world) is Sumatra, another region known for coffee growing. The biggest producer of Arabica coffee in Indonesia, the beans that are taken from this part of the world are much loved and applauded the world over. It tastes almost bitter, with cedar, fruit, tobacco and earthy notes coming together. It is deep with a low level of acidity and the texture is creamy and smooth, yet thick and satisfying.
It doesn’t matter where the coffee is grown. One thing is for sure, Indonesian coffee is one that you are going to fall in love with every single cup that you try.
We love Indonesian coffee and we think that it is one that has to be tasted to be believed. If you are not sure if you are agree, then we say that you should definitely check out some of the amazing, delicious and specialist coffee that this part of the world is able to produce.