JAKARTA, 02/11 – Jakarta Coffee Week 2024 is not just about enjoying a cup of coffee, but also about celebrating the journey of coffee from farm to cup, understanding the processes behind it, and contributing to the sustainability of the coffee industry. With the theme “Sustainability and Innovation in Coffee,” this event highlights the importance of sustainable practices in the coffee industry and innovations in brewing and processing methods. The annual event, held this year at ICE BSD from November 1-3, 2024, serves as a platform to promote and connect hundreds of coffee industry stakeholders in Indonesia, from farmers, coffee shop and roastery owners, baristas, to coffee enthusiasts. It is a space for sharing knowledge and experiences, as well as an opportunity to sample high-quality coffee flavors from both Indonesia and around the world.
One of the highlights of Jakarta Coffee Week 2024 is the debut of Lewara coffee beans from Sigi District, Central Sulawesi. This marks the first time Lewara’s Arabica coffee has been showcased at this annual event. “If you look at the Pasar Kopi area, one whole shelf is filled with coffee from South Sulawesi. But Central Sulawesi has just one – Lewara coffee from Sigi. Many coffee enthusiasts in Indonesia might not even know that Sigi produces coffee,” said Chandra Hendriawan, Co-Founder and CEO of Java Kirana.
Chandra shared that Java Kirana’s first visit to Sigi felt like discovering a hidden gem, with vast potential for coffee cultivation. What’s needed, he explained, is support in the cultivation process and improving post-harvest quality. In line with its mission to boost Indonesia’s coffee productivity, Java Kirana is collaborating with local farmers to improve the quality of coffee from Sigi District.
Lewara Arabica coffee comes from Sigi District, a region surrounded by natural beauty and rich culture. Grown on the slopes of mountains at altitudes between 700 and 1,200 meters above sea level, the coffee plantations in Lewara produce high-quality Arabica beans with unique flavor. The coffee trees are nurtured by farmers who have a deep connection to their land. The cultivation process, which adheres to sustainable and environmentally friendly principles, makes Lewara Arabica not only have delightful taste but also responsible.
Lewara Arabica coffee from Sigi has a well-balanced acidity and a medium body, making it enjoyable for a wide range of coffee drinkers. With every sip, the coffee offers subtle notes of berries, palm sugar, and chocolate, creating a rich and unique flavor profile that delights the senses.
“Coffee means a great deal to us; it’s not just a crop, but a legacy and a source of livelihood,” said Tanda, one of the coffee farmers from Lewara who attended Jakarta Coffee Week 2024.
Tanda explained that Lewara Village is known as a producer of both Robusta and Arabica coffee, each with its own distinct flavor profile. For the past five years, Tanda has been managing his own coffee farm. Not only does he grow coffee, but over time, Tanda, along with his fellow farmers in Sigi, particularly in Lewara, have continuously learned and explored new knowledge about coffee cultivation and processing techniques to produce the best coffee from the land of Lewara.
Dody Nurhidayat, Head of the Plantation Division at the Food Crops, Horticulture, and Plantation Agency (Distanhorbun) of Sigi Regency, expressed his gratitude for Lewara Coffee’s participation in Jakarta Coffee Week 2024. “For a long time, Sigi was not widely known as a coffee-producing region, but through this opportunity, people are finally learning that Sigi has great potential as a coffee producer. This is all thanks to the support of our partners, such as the LTKL Secretariat and Java Kirana. Moving forward, we hope events like this will continue to be held so that Sigi coffee becomes better known in national and even international markets,” said Dody.
The Sigi Regency Government, through the Food Crops, Horticulture, and Plantation Agency (Distanhorbun), continues to provide significant support for the sustainable development of coffee plantations in the region. One of the key efforts is aligning Distanhorbun’s programs with various partners, from upstream to downstream. With a strong commitment, Distanhorbun also conducts agricultural extension services to improve farmers’ capacity in the upstream sector, provides post-harvest processing facilities through the establishment of Processing Units (UPH) in several villages, and helps connect farmers and farmer groups with strategic partners in the downstream sector. These collaborative efforts are not only carried out by Distanhorbun, but also in partnership with the Department of Industry and Trade, the Multi-Stakeholder Partnership (KMP) Sigi Hijau, and young people in Sigi, such as Gampiri Lestari.
M Ryan Gui, Director of Gampiri Bumi Lestari, who also attended Jakarta Coffee Week 2024, shared that Gampiri Bumi has been working alongside farmers to improve the quality of coffee cultivation and post-harvest processing. Gampiri Bumi Lestari is an organization driven by young people in Sigi, dedicated to supporting and processing sustainable local commodities, including coffee. The organization participated in this national-scale event to showcase their efforts. Gampiri Bumi also encourages and assists farmers in adopting agroforestry practices that prioritize sustainability. In addition to being environmentally friendly, this approach is expected to contribute to the economic growth and well-being of local communities, particularly in Sigi District.
“This is the first time Gampiri Bumi, together with coffee farmers from Lewara Sigi, has participated in Jakarta Coffee Week. This participation is very important for us, especially for the farmers, as it boosts their morale and shows where and how the coffee they grow ultimately reaches. Today, coffee from Sigi was tasted by baristas, coffee industry professionals, and other coffee enthusiasts, and they all loved it. This makes us even more motivated to produce coffee with high flavor and quality,” Ryan concluded.
