The Indonesian archipelago, largest producer of Robusta coffee in the world, is made up of more than three thousand islands supporting a population of more than 175 million. The overwhelming proportion of the Robustas are grown on the islands of Sumatra and Java.
An Island in Western Indonesia, Sumatra consists of eight provinces.
The beautiful tropical country of Java is in Southern Indonesia. Connected East to West by a volcanic Mountain Range, Java boasts some 35 active craters. Java produces so much coffee, it is the Indonesian synonym for coffee. Beware of unscrupulous coffee merchants, however. Java is a small island and true unblended Java coffee is rare. Coffee that is classified as "Java" in that country is only ever Arabica. (On a similar note, true "Mocha - Java" would be blended coffee from the Island of Java and Mocha coffee from Yemen.) Sumatra and Java are just two of the countries that make up Indonesia, one of the worlds most important coffee regions. Arabica is grown on all of the major islands; Celebes, Bali, Flores and Timor are also areas of production.
Arabicas from Indonesia were seldom brought into the U.S. prior to the emergence of retail stores selling fine coffee varieties. The majority of Indonesian coffee is imported by Germany and Japan. Since the emergence of a western audience with an appreciation for quality coffee offering unique and different taste profiles, their wonders are just now being appreciated.
Fine Indonesian coffee is known for it's rich heavy body and almost syrupy quality.
(Another successful Indonesian crop is Tobacco. For further information, go to the "Origins" section of the Cigar Guide.)
