Coffee Origins

Indonesia has a unique place in coffee history. Dutch smugglers took coffee seeds from Mocha in Yemen in the late 1600s and founded coffee cultivation on the island of Java, exporting to Europe in 1704. This was the first time coffee had been grown commercially outside of the Arabian Peninsula. Today, Indonesian coffee plantations cover approximately 1.24 million hectares, producing around 800,000 tonnes annually. 98.6% of this production is from smallholder farmers.

Harvesting

Common arabica varieties

Abyssinia, Sigararutang, S-795, Andungsari, Ateng, Catimors, Typica, TimTim (Timor hybrid)

Flores Island

The name Flores is from “Cabo de Flores” - Cape of Flowers - used by Portuguese sailors in the 17th century. 570 kms long and located 300 kms to the east of Bali, Flores is home to exotic tropical fruits, spices and creatures, high mountain ranges and volcanoes surrounded by some of the world’s best coral reefs. Flores Island is populated by various ethnic groups with their own traditions and languages within a total island wide population of around 2 million.

Coffee Snapshot

The island of Flores has produced significant volumes of coffee for well over a century. Arabica coffee is grown at 1,200 to 1,800 metres above sea level. Flores coffee cultivation covers more than 72,000 hectares of Robusta and Arabica species from the western part (Labuan Bajo) to the eastern end (Maumere). Most coffee is grown under shade trees without chemicals and is known for sweet chocolate, floral and woody notes. Kartika is the most common arabica variety along with Yellow Colombian, Lini S, Red Columbian, and Juria.

Maumere

Located in Sikka Regency, Maumere is the largest town in Flores. A new origin area for Flores, Arabica coffee is being cultivated near the peak of the 500m Keli Hill in Nilo Village and on the slopes of nearby Mount Egon. Coffee is growing alongside cacao, nutmeg, cloves and vanilla in agroforestry systems.

Manggarai

East of Labuan Bajo (access point to world-class diving and Komodo dragons, luxury hotels and the last Starbucks in the southern hemisphere until New Zealand!) are the Manggarai people, who grow quality coffee on highland hillsides and plateaus. The dominant coffee variety is Kartika, a local version of Catuai with a medium body with bittersweet chocolate, black cherry fruit, and caramel flavours.

Bajawa

Located in the Ngada regency, Bajawa is situated on an upland plateau surrounded by volcanic domes. Coffee is grown by family owned farms on the slopes of Mount Inerie. Arabica varieties include Typica, Catimor and Timor Hybrids. Farmer groups pool processing resources using wet-hulling techniques, “ngura” in Bajawa, similar to the “giling basah” of Sumatra producing arabica beans, greenish and bluish in colour with subtle, earthy notes of wood, chocolate and tobacco.

Kelimutu

Located in the Ende Regency on the southern coast of Flores Island. The people are known as ‘Lio-Ende’. Flores' most famous volcano, Mount Kelimutu is sacred to the Lio people, with three multi-colored crater lakes. This is a newer origin area with arabica and robusta cultivated outside the borders of Kelimutu National Park. A popular local type of coffee is “Kopi Ende”, robusta coffee beans and ginger roasted together and ground to powder.

Tourism Snapshot

Flores island is visually extraordinary and showcases the world-famous Komodo National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, multi-coloured volcanic lakes, pristine waterfalls, uninhabited islands, and pristine reefs. Unique agriculture, like the spider web rice fields of Cancar and shade grown plantations of coffee, cacao, coconut, the island wide cultivation of aromatic spices contribute to a strong cultural and culinary heritage.

The island's stunning rugged coastline, islands, pristine waters and marine life make it a paradise for liveaboard cruising, sea kayaking, diving and snorkelling. Easy access to cultural immersion provides a deeper understanding of Flores' rich heritage and offers meaningful connections with its warm-hearted people.