INDONESIA IJEN METAHAI MAFAKA #144

Bondowoso, a regency in East Java, Indonesia, rightfully bears the title "Republic of Coffee" in recognition of its long-established coffee-growing tradition. Located near the Ijen Volcanic Crater, the region’s plantations flourish at altitudes between 1,100 and 1,200 meters, where Arabica varietals such as USDA 762, Lini S795, S288, and Cobra are carefully nurtured. The annual harvest, which spans from June to August, typically culminates in beans that are fully matured by the year’s end.

In the foothills of Mount Ijen, smallholder farmers have embraced coffee cultivation as a vital supplementary livelihood. Following independence, the government allotted many of these farmers half-acre plots for agricultural use, a legacy that saw some diversify into vegetable and tobacco production while others committed their lands to coffee.

Cultivated beneath the protective canopy of shade trees, these coffee plants benefit from conditions that favour a slow cherry maturation, thereby yielding a naturally sweet taste. Many of the farmers process their harvests in modest, small batches or directly sell the cherries to coffee processors, creating a dynamic industry capable of producing both large-scale commercial volumes and distinguished micro lots for the specialty coffee market.