Java Preanger

“West Java is the earliest plantation area acquired by VOC (Verenigde Oostindische Compagnie) in East Indies back in the 18th century. Coffee was planted in Priangan area, such as in Sumedang. Java’s Arabica coffee production is centered on the Ijen Plateau, at the eastern end of Java, at an altitude more than 1,400 meters. The coffee is primarily grown on large estates that were built by the Dutch in the 18th century.

These estates transport ripe cherries quickly to their mills after harvest. The pulp is then fermented and washed off, using the wet process, with rigorous quality control. This results in coffee with good, heavy body and a sweet overall impression. They are sometimes rustic in their flavor profiles but display a lasting finish. At their best, they are smooth and supple and sometimes have a subtle herbaceous note in the aftertaste.

This coffee is the true “Java” part of the famous “Mocha Java Blend”. It is produced in an area of Western Java in the mountains west of the city of Bandung called Preanger.

The volcanic soil on the side of this mountain is very fertile and many other crops, from potatoes to cacao, share space with the coffee. Recently, exporters and other professionals in the coffee industry have been working with the agricultural communities there to foster a resurgence in specialty coffee.