History of Coffee in Indonesia

Many Indonesians think that coffee is a native Indonesian commodity. It should be noted that coffee is not native to Indonesia but comes from mainland Africa. This is proven in the history of coffee, which began when the coffee plant was discovered in Africa. After the discovery of the coffee plant, this plant began to be cultivated and spread worldwide.

History of Coffee Farming in Indonesia

We have discussed the popular types of coffee in the world and the types of coffee in Indonesia. Now, we will discuss the history of coffee in Indonesia in more depth.

History records that coffee was first discovered by Ethiopians around 3000 years ago. At that time, a goat herder was bringing his livestock to the field. While looking after his livestock, he saw his pet goat eating a berry-like seed on a tree. The goat remained awake and hyperactive even though the sun was setting. Then, the shepherd tried to process and eat the seeds, and he felt refreshed.

In the past, people didn’t grind coffee and then brew it. At first, coffee was only dried and then brewed; only after 500 years of discovery did a tool appear to crush coffee beans. At that time, coffee processing was still straightforward.

Coffee Seedlings Sent to Indonesia

The history of coffee in Indonesia began when the Dutch Governor in Malabar (India) sent Yemeni coffee seeds or Arabica coffee (Coffea arabica) to the Dutch Governor in Batavia (now Jakarta) in 1696. These first seeds failed to grow because of floods in Batavia.

The second shipment of coffee beans to Batavia reportedly occurred in 1699. The plant grew, and in 1711, the first export was sent from Java to Europe by a Dutch trading company, the VOC (Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie), which was founded in 1602. For ten years, exports increased to 60 tons per year. Indonesia was the first place coffee was widely cultivated outside of Arabia and Ethiopia. The VOC monopolized the coffee trade from 1725 to 1780.

Coffee Plantations Develop in Indonesia

The coffee trade was very profitable for the VOC but of little benefit to Indonesian farmers forced to grow it by the Dutch colonial government. In theory, producing export commodities means making money for Javanese people to pay their taxes. This is known in Dutch as Cultuurstelsel (Cultivation System), which includes spices and various tropical agricultural commodities.

Cultuurstelsel for coffee is implemented in the Prenger area of West Java. In practice, prices for these key agricultural commodities are set too low, diverting resources from the work of workers who produce rice, which is difficult for farmers.

Coffee plantations are increasingly expanding in Indonesia

The VOC developed Arabica coffee planting areas in Sumatra, Bali, Sulawesi, and the Timor Islands In the mid-17th century. In Sulawesi, coffee was first planted in 1750. In the highlands of North Sumatra, coffee was first grown near Lake Toba in 1888, followed by the Gayo (Aceh) highlands near Lake Laut Tawar in 1924.

Around 1850, a Dutch colonial official, Eduard Douwes Dekker, wrote a book entitled “Max Havelaar and the Coffee Auctions of the Dutch Trading Company,” which exposed the pressure on farmers by corrupt and greedy employees. This book helped change Dutch public opinion about the “Cultivation system” and colonization in general. Recently, the name Max Havelaar was adopted by the first fair-trade organization.

Around the 18th century, Dutch colonialists established extensive coffee farming land on the Ijen plateau in East Java. However, disaster struck in 1876 when coffee was attacked by a leaf rust disease that swept through Indonesia, burning similar plants to the ground. Robusta coffee (C. canephora var. robusta) was introduced to East Java in 1900 as a substitute in the lower plains, and the rust disease was gradually eradicated.

Indonesian Companies Start to Develop and Sell Coffee

Small companies in Indonesia began growing coffee as a leading commodity in 1920. Plantations in Java were nationalized on Independence Day and revitalized with new varieties of Arabica coffee in the 1950s. Small companies adopted this variety through the government or various community development programs.

Now, more than 90% of Indonesian Arabica coffee is grown by small companies, especially in North Sumatra, with land of 1 hectare or less. Annual arabica production is around 75,000 tonnes, and 90% is exported. Arabica coffee, which reaches other countries, mainly enters the specialty market segment.

At PT Indo Malaka Global, we are a leading Indonesian coffee supplier. Our diverse range of premium coffee beans, sourced from Indonesia’s rich landscapes, reflects our commitment to quality and sustainability.

Coffee Suppliers in Indonesia

The export and import process is quite complicated. To make it easier for you to import coffee from Indonesia, our team is ready to help you. PT Indo Malaka Global is a coffee supplier and exporter in Indonesia. We have experience exporting coffee to various countries through green, roasted, and ground coffee.

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