Indonesien-Java-Blawan

There are few coffees that can be described in just a few words: One for everyone, period! A balanced coffee that’s wonderfully low in acidity. Suitable for almost any brewing method, it’s sure to delight even some „coffee newcomers.“ Its delicate nutty notes, a hint of vanilla, and a touch of chocolate make this coffee one of our most popular varieties. If you’d like to try making your own coffee blends, this variety is a great choice. Indonesia was the first country outside Africa to grow coffee on a large scale, starting in 1696. However, frequent flooding meant several attempts were needed before large-scale cultivation succeeded. Today, Robusta is mostly grown on Java. Due to a disease known as „leaf rust,“ most Arabica plants died around 1876. It was not until around 1950 that new attempts were made to grow Arabica varieties.

Coffee from Indonesia

Indonesia is home to a few coffee curiosities, including Kopi Luwak, which has appeared in more than a few Hollywood movies. The coffee cherries, usually from ordinary Arabica plants, are eaten by a civet species (the Asian palm civet, or Luwak, hence the name). Since the animal can digest only the fruit, it excretes the undigested bean. This ferments the coffee. These civets are essentially predators and eat coffee cherries more as a dessert. Accordingly, very little „wild“ Kopi Luwak is available on the market. This coffee is usually sold entirely to the Asian market, often for a four-figure price in U.S. dollars per kilo. Kopi Luwak available in Europe usually comes from breeding farms. There, the civets are kept in cages and are often „offered“ more coffee cherries than they would naturally eat.

Whether the flavor is worth keeping the animals this way or paying the still-high price per kilo is for each person to decide.