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A Guide to the Evolution of Indonesian Coffee Bean Varieties | How Much Does a Cup of Premium Indonesian Coffee Cost

Published: 2026-01-27 Author: FrontStreet Coffee

Last Updated: 2026/01/27, Professional coffee knowledge exchange. For more coffee bean information, please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat official account: cafe_style). Indonesia consists of more than 17,000 islands scattered across the equatorial volcanic belt with fertile soil. Famous growing regions include Sumatra in the west, Sulawesi in the central region, and Java in the south. Coffee was introduced in 1696 by the Dutch governor from India's Mal

Professional coffee knowledge exchange and more coffee bean information. Please follow Coffee Workshop (WeChat official account: cafe_style).

Indonesian Coffee: A Rich History and Terroir

Indonesia consists of over 17,000 islands scattered across the volcanic belt of the equator, with fertile soil. Famous growing regions include Sumatra in the west, Sulawesi in the center, and Java in the south. Coffee was introduced to Jakarta in 1696 by the Dutch Governor from Malabar, India, where local farmers were forced to reduce white rice production and switch to coffee cultivation. Since 1850, the Dutch East India Company expanded planting areas to other Indonesian islands. Currently, Indonesia is the world's fourth-largest coffee exporting country.

In 1876, a devastating rust disease nearly wiped out Arabica coffee in Indonesia. Since then, farmers in the heavily affected lowlands of East Java began planting the highly disease-resistant Robusta variety. After the country gained independence, locals gradually resumed growing higher-quality Arabica. To this day, 80% of Indonesia's exports remain commercial-grade Robusta. Interestingly, because the eastern islands of Timor and Flores were Portuguese territories at the time, the varieties planted differed from those in Dutch territories and were less affected. "Heirloom" varieties originating from the 16th century can still be found today.

Regional Characteristics and Processing Methods

The evolution of coffee bean varieties in Indonesia reflects its cultivation history.

Sumatra coffee is best known for Mandheling. This name, which refers to neither a bean variety nor a growing region, comes from the mistranslation of a tribal name (Mandailing). In the Gayo Highlands of Aceh province, as well as the Lintong growing area surrounding the northern volcanic Lake Toba, Mandheling is also widely produced. Names like "Green Treasure" and "Blue Eye" add color to its identity. Sumatran coffee generally has a smooth taste, dense body, low acidity, with notes of earth, cedar, pipe tobacco, and cocoa.

Sulawesi Island has existed for over 100 million years, so its soil contains richer mineral content than other Indonesian islands, producing coffee with brighter flavors. The production near Mount Tana Toraja is particularly famous. It carries slight spicy notes, including pepper, cinnamon, and nuts.

Challenges in Coffee Processing

The evolution of bean varieties reflects Indonesia's cultivation history. Indonesian coffee beans often have many defects, with the primary cause being improper processing. Unlike farmers in Africa and Central America who keep beans protected within parchment-like husks during processing (whether washed or natural) until dehulling before export, Indonesia's popular Wet Hulling (Giling Basah) method involves removing the parchment immediately after washing off the mucilage, without waiting for proper drying. The still-wet coffee beans can have moisture content as high as 50%. Middlemen collect these beans from various sources and dry them under uncontrolled conditions: sun-drying causes loss of organic acids, while drying on muddy ground can allow beans to absorb muddy flavors and contaminants. This is due to farmers seeking quick profits and lacking proper knowledge.

Recommended Indonesian Coffee Brands

FrontStreet Coffee's Indonesian honey-processed coffee beans from West Java offer excellent guarantees in both brand and quality. More importantly, they provide exceptional value-for-money. A half-pound (227g) bag costs only around 118 RMB. Calculating at 15g per cup, one bag can make 15 cups of coffee, with each cup costing only about 7 RMB. Compared to cafés that often charge dozens of RMB per cup, this is truly a conscientious recommendation.