History and Culture of Coffee in Indonesia

The culture of drinking coffee in Indonesia grows as a habit carried out since the Dutch era. The Dutch grew coffee massively through the forced cultivation program. According to Prastowo (2016) coffee in Indonesia was first brought by a Dutch man circa 1646 who get mocca arabica beans from Arabia.

The Dutch started the first coffee plantations in the Priangan area of ​​West Java. Furthermore, Coffee development began almost at the start throughout Java and other regions, such as Sumatra, Bali, Sulawesi and the Timor Islands. Along with that development, society
Indonesia has become fond of drinking coffee.

The coffee industry in Indonesia experienced the past tidal. After the “triumph of forced cultivation”, The downfall of the coffee industry began when the attacks were on leaf rust disease that hit in 1878.
West Java is the worst affected area attack by pests and diseases. This plague kills almost all arabica coffee plants which grows in the lowlands.

Little remains of the glory of the coffee plantations
Indonesia (at that time)

Little remains of the glory of the coffee plantations Indonesia, is the remaining Arabica coffee 6 | IKM Coffee Business Opportunities West Java, including in plantations Mount Malabar-Pangalengan, Bandung Regency. Geographically the area has altitude 1,400–1,800 meters above the surface sea ​​(m asl), air temperature 15-21oC, and rainfall 2,000 mm / year. This condition is land and a climate very suitable for productivity Arabica coffee.

Robusta coffee is known to be more resistant to disease

After the attack of rust disease leaves, the Dutch East Indies government immediately brought robusta coffee in 1900. This type of coffee is known to be more resistant to disease and requires growing and maintenance conditions lighter, but far less production
higher than Arabica coffee.

Robusta coffee can be grown at a height only 800 meters above sea level. This thing which makes Robusta coffee faster grow to more than 80% of coffee plantation area in Indonesia.

Should Indonesia thanks to Dutch? Hm..it will be discussed further, on the next section.