INDONESIA BEKALI HJ. CUCU MEKARWANGI

West Java sits among Indonesia’s most celebrated coffee landscapes. Coffees from the western edge of Java are recognised for their breadth of flavour and a grounding caramel sweetness that anchors their complexity. This year we return to the region alongside Bekali Coffee a collective of young producers driven by a clear intention to restore the spirit of specialty coffee through transparency and traceability. These values are not an afterthought but the foundation of how they work shaping how West Java coffee is presented and understood.

What first drew us to Bekali was their decision to separate coffees by single producer and single varietal. On paper it sounds simple. In the field it is one of the most demanding commitments a producer can make. Working closely with Haji Cucu Bekali focuses on two farm blocks in Mekarwangi and Sukabumi. From these sites come two fully traceable lots of Red Caturra a varietal known for its red fruit acidity and juicy structure. To encounter this level of clarity from West Java again feels quietly significant.

The Mekarwangi lot leans into a classic wine driven natural profile. High elevation fermentation brings depth without overwhelming the fruit allowing sweetness to remain clear and composed. On hand drip it opens with grape jam sweet black cherry and a gentle tang of goji berry. Pulled as espresso the cup turns more vivid revealing tart mangosteen layered with prune and date like sweetness. With milk the profile softens into honeydew melon while holding a deep plum and prune finish. This is a coffee sought out by Indonesian coffee lovers who favour intensity with purpose expressive yet deeply drinkable from the first sip to the last.