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    Home » Single Origin Coffee Beans » Indonesian Coffees » Indonesian Coffee Beans

    Arabica Java Coffee Beans

    Java coffee is a wet processed (washed) coffee grown on the island of Java in Indonesia, mostly on the east side in the Ijen volcano complex on the Ijen Plateau at elevations around 1,400 meters.

    Growing Altitude: 750 - 1,550 meters above sea level
    Arabica Variety: Typica
    Harvest Period: May/June-August/September
    Milling Process: Washed, sun dried
    Aroma: Nutty
    Flavor: Nutty, malty, chocolate, bright, sweet
    Body: Effervescent
    Acidity: Bright

    The Indonesian island of Java is not only a prolific agricultural exporter, it's also a beautiful destination for tourists with lush scenic views and a warm and friendly culture.

     Characteristics of Java Arabica Coffee

    A good Java coffee exhibits

    • a relatively heavy body, though lighter than some other Indonesian coffees and also less acidic.
    • somewhat rustic in the overall flavor profile
    • a lingering finish and herbaceous subtleties in the aftertaste.

    A fine Java coffee has a low-toned richness that is typical of Indonesian and New Guinea coffees, but with a full body that is clean and thick, and a medium acidity (brighter than New Guinea coffee) along with earthy qualities, but less earthy than some other Indonesian coffees such as Borneo, Sulawesi and Sumatra.

    While the finish of Java may be a bit quicker than some other Indonesian coffees, it often contains a slightly spicy or smoky twist. Java coffee leaves a sweet impression overall, very smooth and supple.

    Java Arabica Coffee Growing Areas

    The finest Java coffee comes from plantations on the five largest estates established by the Dutch government in the 18th century when Java was part of the Dutch East Indies.

    The largest coffee estates on Java, encompassing more than 4,000 hectares of coffee plantings, are Djampit, (the biggest producer) Blawan, Pancoer, and Kayumas. Coffee has been growing in this area since the 17th century and has historically been enjoyed by people all around the world.

    After harvest the coffee fruit (cherry) is fermented and washed using the wet-process, which removes the pulp.

    Early Java Coffee Plantation Stocks

    During the 1880s when the island of Java was leading the world in coffee production, Java's coffee crops were devastated by a rust plague. This plague occurred first in Sukabumi and then throughout Central Java and areas of East Java. Many plantation stocks were lost.

    Java's coffee plants were mostly of the varietal Arabica (Coffea arabica var. Arabica) at the time of the rust plague.

    After the plague the Dutch first planted Liberica (Coffea liberica) and then Robusta (Coffea canephora var. robusta), a species highly favored for its ability to resist disease, though considered inferior to the finer Arabica coffee beans when it comes to producing a fine cup of brewed coffee with a wide range of flavors and aromas.

    While most java coffees imported into the United States and Canada are Arabica, the higher price reflects the agricultural situation, where approximately 90% of the coffee crop is Robusta.

    Java's Old Colonial Plantations

    The old colonial era plantations on Java now grow just a small percentage of the island's coffee, though these revived old estates grow most of the island's premium gourmet Arabica varietal coffee.

    Overall, only about ten percent of Indonesia's coffee production is Arabica, but this ten percent includes some of the world's finest gourmet coffees.

    Monsooning Java Coffee Beans

    Some of the coffee beans from Java's old estates are aged, or monsooned, a process that exposes the unroasted green coffee beans (milled but not yet roasted) to moist, warm air throughout the rainy season. These monsooned coffee beans are labeled as Old Java Coffee, Old Government Coffee., or Old Brown Java Coffee.

    The monsooning of the Java coffee beans may continue for as long as three years, resulting in a strengthening of the coffee's body and taste, increasing the sweetness and weakening the acidity.

    The coffee beans also undergo a distinct color change from their original green tint to a light brown color and often exhibit intense woody roast tastes along with a heavy body and almost no acidity.

    Tradition of Mocha Java Coffee

    Java Arabica coffee is also commonly used in the traditional blend called Mocha-Java along with Yemen Mocha coffee (see Mocha Java Coffee).

    The history of coffee grown on Java began in 1690 when the Dutch were finally able to smuggle coffee plants out of the Arab port of Mocha and quickly began growing it in Java, which was an East Indian colony, and also in Ceylon.

    To read about these events and how they fueled the European coffee trade see the World's Best History of Coffee.

    Java Arabica Coffee and Espresso Brewing Tips

    For some really helpful tips on brewing the perfect cup of premium Java Arabica coffee see our comprehensive section on coffee brewing. You can also read detailed coffee taste profiles of Specialty Coffees and instructions on preparing a whole range of Espresso Drink Recipes.

    Some mocha java espresso blends have been known to add robusta beans, which have higher caffeine content than arabica beans and produce a thicker, richer crema. Any coffee roaster looking to make their own mocha java blend would be advised to buy the green coffee beans separately from a distributor and blend it themselves, for greater control over the final flavour.

    For detailed definitions of coffee as well as espresso terminology see the Coffee and Espresso Glossary.

    Other Agricultural Exports

    Indonesia and Java especially are blessed by good soil and abundant rain, which makes it a natural agrarian society and exports form a large portion of their trade. Aside from coffee (which makes it the third largest coffee exporter in the world), they export palm oil, tobacco, cocoa and tea, as well as spices like cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon and sugar cane.

    Buy Java Coffee Beans From Canada


    Green Coffee Production

    Year60kg bagsCoffee grown
    201610,000,000 bags1,320,000,000 pounds
    201512,317,475 bags1,625,906,713 pounds
    201411,418,277 bags1,507,212,604 pounds
    201311,265,194 bags1,487,005,621 pounds
    201211,518,538 bags1,520,447,016 pounds

    Green Coffee Exports

    Year60kg bagsCoffee exported
    201600 pounds
    20157,985,4801,054,083,360 pounds
    20146,679,280881,664,960 pounds
    20139,954,1901,313,953,080 pounds
    201211,257,5401,485,995,280 pounds

    Data may not be available for the most recent year.
    Source: ICO


    Facts

    Indonesia is the #4 largest coffee growing country in the world, in 2015 they...
    produced 1,625,906,713 lbs
    exported 1,054,083,360 lbs
    That's over 65% exported!

    Sounds like a lot? It's actually 8.1% of the coffee grown worldwide.

    Indonesia coffee is grown on mountainside "fincas" (farms) at 750 to 1200 meters above sea level
    (that's 2,461 to 3,937 ft)


    Source: ICO

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    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Abdilla

      September 09, 2020 at 8:08 am

      Dear Admin, I have some Arabica Java green bean, I want to export the java coffee bean especially Arabica Java, could you give me some good importers thanks

      Reply
    2. Mohammed

      December 05, 2018 at 10:13 am

      Hi,
      We are looking to sell the mocha java coffee in the UK. Would you have details for any importers of indonesian java and yemen mocha coffee beans?

      Regards,

      Reply
    3. Daryl Wohlers

      October 08, 2017 at 3:15 am

      Daryl
      My company own coffee shops in Aust but have the advantage of owning our own factory in Java making furniture for 30 years
      So we ship weekly and want a direct supply of beans from the source
      Thanks

      Reply
    4. Jens Tan

      June 24, 2017 at 12:45 pm

      Hi Admin,
      We plan to step into coffee industry and produce our own brand of coffee. We are looking for good quality coffee that can differentiate ourselves from other brands in our country. We would like to seek your advice on how to get the samples of different type of coffee before we decide which one to use. Do you have the coffee in powder form? We also like to know the pricing and details of order from you. Thanks.

      Reply
      • Haytham husein

        February 07, 2019 at 10:41 pm

        Merapi mountain area is a good region for coffee , my indonasean partner can provide up to 7 tons per year of honey , wine, and natural processes green beans, arabica only. I also hav a contact for a rabusta supplier in dampjet region hat I haven’t used yet and we will meet in April to test thier beans . If you are interested in sourcing beans please contact me and we can arrange for you based on your requirement ( we also have beans from somisor island in lake Tuba )

        Reply
    5. C.BHASKARAN

      February 17, 2013 at 3:44 pm

      Dear Sir,
      I want to import javas coffee beans and roast it and sell it in indian market.Can you suggest some good suppliers from java and ask them to contact me.

      Reply
      • EspressoCoffeeGuide

        June 18, 2017 at 10:36 am

        Check your email - we've sent over the contact information for a broker that works in your market.

        Reply
    6. kim

      March 19, 2012 at 2:04 am

      where can you order Java Arabic coffee online

      Reply
      • EspressoCoffeeGuide

        June 18, 2017 at 10:36 am

        I've sent over details for a roaster and green coffee importer.

        Reply

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