Tag: Kopi Luwak

Indonesia’s Top 9 Coffees in 2026

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New ranking highlights leading producers and coffee traditions

Dubai – Qahwa World

A newly updated ranking published on March 18, 2026 by TasteAtlas highlights nine of the most notable coffees and producers across Indonesia, offering a snapshot of one of the world’s most diverse coffee landscapes.

Spanning regions such as Sumatra, Bali, Java, and Sulawesi, the list reflects a wide range of production methods, flavor profiles, and traditions—from high-end civet coffee to everyday robusta staples.

The Top 9 Indonesian Coffees

1. Gayo Kopi – Wild Kopi Luwak (Sumatra)
Topping the list is Gayo Kopi, known for its wild-sourced Kopi Luwak from the highlands of northern Sumatra. The coffee is often associated with a smooth texture and reduced bitterness, with deep, earthy flavor characteristics.

2. Akasa Coffee – Honey Process (Bali)
From the Kintamani region, Akasa Coffee focuses on full control over production. Its honey-processed Arabica is typically described as balanced, with gentle sweetness, floral notes, and a clean finish.

3. Wahana Estate – Sidikalang (North Sumatra)
Situated at elevations between 1,300 and 1,500 meters, Wahana Estate is recognized for its focus on experimentation and variety development, contributing to layered and complex flavor profiles.

4. Seven Bika Coffee – Java Preanger
This brand draws from several Indonesian coffee regions, offering both single-origin Arabica and blends. Its small-batch approach aims to preserve the character of each origin.

5. Toarco Toraja – Sulawesi
Produced in the Toraja Highlands, this coffee is processed using washed methods that highlight clarity and balance, often resulting in a refined and structured cup.

6. Puntang Coffee – Arabica Wine Process (West Java)
Grown on Mount Puntang, these coffees benefit from volcanic soil and high elevations. The use of experimental processing methods contributes to fruit-forward and aromatic profiles.

7. El’s Coffee – Lampung
Based in southern Sumatra, this brand focuses on locally grown beans, including robusta from Lampung, known for its full body and strong flavor.

8. Kopi Luwak Coffee – Central Java
A long-established producer of civet-processed coffee, offering cups commonly associated with smoothness and notes of chocolate and caramel.

9. Mandailing Estate Coffee – Sumatra
Originating from northern Sumatra, this coffee reflects a traditional profile with a full body and flavors often described as dark chocolate, spice, and dried fruit.

Traditional Coffee Styles Still Shape the Culture

Alongside these producers, Indonesia’s coffee culture remains deeply connected to traditional preparation methods.

Kopi luwak continues to attract global attention for its unique processing method. Kopi tubruk remains a daily staple, prepared by mixing ground coffee directly with hot water and allowing it to settle in the cup. In Yogyakarta, kopi joss is known for its unusual preparation involving hot charcoal, while kopi terbalik from Aceh is served upside down as part of a distinctive local ritual. Ginseng coffee represents a more modern variation, blending coffee with herbal elements.

A Snapshot of a Changing Industry

The ranking reflects broader developments in Indonesia’s coffee sector, where traditional practices continue to coexist with modern approaches to cultivation and processing. Specialty Arabica is gaining international attention, while robusta remains essential to local consumption and identity.

TasteAtlas notes that its rankings are based on audience ratings, with systems designed to identify reliable input and reduce bias. The list is intended to highlight notable local products and encourage exploration, rather than serve as a definitive global classification.

Source

This article is adapted from a ranking published by TasteAtlas (March 18, 2026):
https://www.tasteatlas.com/best-rated-coffees-in-indonesia

Jacu Bird Coffee Escapes Trump’s Tariffs as Brazil’s Specialty Exports Collapse

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São Paulo – Qahwa World

While Brazil’s premium coffee exports are reeling under heavy U.S. tariffs, one unusual specialty brew has managed to stay untouched: coffee produced from beans eaten and excreted by the Jacu bird.

In early August, U.S. President Donald Trump imposed a 50% tariff on Brazilian goods amid a political dispute with President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The move has slashed U.S. imports of Brazilian specialty coffee by nearly 70% in August alone, according to the Brazilian Specialty Coffee Association. The damage has been especially severe for premium brands, long favored by American consumers.

Yet Jacu Bird coffee — a rare Arabica harvested at Fazenda Camocim in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest — has emerged unscathed. The beans are naturally processed through the digestive tract of the Jacu, a fruit-eating bird of the Penelope species, giving the coffee a distinctive floral aroma and balanced acidity.

“Americans don’t have the same vision as the Japanese, Asians, Saudis, or Europeans in seeking out this type of quality,” said Henrique Sloper, producer and CEO of Fazenda Camocim. “For us, the tariffs don’t affect this product.”

Jacu Bird coffee, which can fetch up to £960 ($1,300) per kilo, has gained strong followings in Japan, Europe, and parts of the Middle East. Its production was inspired by Indonesia’s famous Kopi Luwak, made from beans digested by civets.

Rogerio Lemke, agriculture supervisor at Fazenda Camocim, explained that the bird’s varied diet enhances the beans’ profile: “The Jacu eats fruit as well as coffee. Inside its craw, the coffee absorbs the fruit’s characteristics, adding complexity to the cup.”

While this niche product thrives, the broader sector is suffering. Brazil’s coffee exporters group Cecafe confirmed that specialty beans have been hardest hit by the tariffs, driving a “ruinous” decline in shipments to the U.S.

Sloper admitted the farm’s other coffees, which form the bulk of production, are facing losses: “America is the largest coffee market in the world, and we’re shut out. In the short term, it’s very bad. But in the medium and long term, it may push us to open other markets.”

For now, the Jacu Bird — once seen as a nuisance in coffee groves — has unexpectedly become a symbol of resilience in Brazil’s struggling specialty coffee industry.