Java Estate
— Koen • July 3rd, 2007
“It came from Jampit,” she said. I read its label once more: Estate Java. Then I knew she was right. Previously, on the phone she said that Starbucks’ brand for it is Estate Java, instead of Java Estate. “It’s in East Java,” she continued, as if I didn’t listen. “But of course,” I said then, “Around Mount Ijen, isn’t it?” She nodded, then continued proudly, “We have visited the plantation.” Then we continued the chat by talking about small Coffee plantation around West Java, where we live.
Java Estate is a remainder of Arabica coffee plantation in Java Island. Originally, they cultivated only Arabica coffee here in Indonesia. But after a catastrophic epidemic, all the plants cultivated below 1000m were replaced by Liberica, and then replaced again with Robusta variety. Only a very small number of plantations are still cultivating Arabica variety.
The Java Estate is planted around the Mount Ijen by a state-owned company called PTPN XII. Almost 85% of the coffee beans are exported unroasted. It is therefore easier to find the Java Estate in a city like Seattle than in any city in Indonesia. Certain companies, such as Caswell, have been reimporting them back to Indonesia. You can visit such café in Jakarta, and order your special cup of hot Java Estate.
After the talk with the barrista at Starbucks Ciwalk (Bandung), I took home a bag of this Java Estate (ouch, Estate Java) of Starbucks. It refreshed me this morning. And what should I say about the taste? Ah, it is rather personal. I have a certain feeling that it is not the first time I taste this kind of coffee. Indeed, it was like the taste of coffee I used to drink on my childhood. Coffee of Sidomulyo, purchased only in Malang (East Java).
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