Review: Java Preanger Coffee, Arabica Coffee With a Strong Aroma

(Java Preanger Coffee)

Actually I'm not a master in the field of coffee, just because I watched the coverage on TV1 about the history of coffee in Indonesia. And hearing the name of Mount Manglayang mentioned there So I felt moved to know more, and after that I found the reason why Dee Lestari made a coffee philosophy novel (even though I've never read it.. Hehe).

There is a long story behind the cup of coffee we drink, even in European countries, drinking coffee has become a kind of culture, there is no day without coffee. Maybe that's also why the Dutch used to be so aggressive in enforcing the forced cultivation of coffee in several areas in Indonesia.

Indonesia is indeed one of the world's largest coffee bean producing countries (if I'm not mistaken, it's number 3, right?). Starting from Sabang to Merauke, we have a type of coffee with a distinctive taste. However, are you familiar with Java Preanger Coffee? It is said that this is the oldest type of coffee ever cultivated in Indonesia.

Java Preanger Coffee or Java Preanger Coffee (KJP) is a type of Arabica coffee grown in West Java, which is why the Dutch call it "Java Preanger". The uniqueness of KJV compared to other coffees in Indonesia, is the authentic taste of Arabica contained in the coffee, which is not found in any type of Arabica in Indonesia: Sumatran, Balinese, or Papuan coffee, maybe even in the world. This is because the coffee beans planted are pure descendants of Kenya Arabica coffee brought by the Dutch to West Java, and the seeds are not spread (in essence, rare seeds, or something like that). As for other coffees in the archipelago, the coffee beans have been mixed, so the Arabica taste is not as strong as KJP coffee. (Maybe only people who know coffee can taste it, coz I'm coffee blind myself, so that's how it is...

Speaking of types of coffee, FYI, there are two types of coffee that are mentioned the most (actually there are more types of coffee than this) namely Arabica and Robusta. Arabica coffee is a type of coffee plant that is grown above an altitude of 1000 km above sea level, it is said that altitude can also affect the taste of Arabica coffee itself. As for Robusta, which tends to grow in the lowlands, the taste is definitely different. The processing itself is also different, for Arabica, coffee beans are stored for about 8 years and can be processed into ready-to-brewed coffee, while Robusta only takes 5 years, this has an impact on the acidity of the coffee, Arabica has different acid levels (the longer the coffee is allowed to stand, usually fermented, the less the acid content).

According to disbun.jabarprov.go.id Java Preanger coffee grows on 11 mountains in West Java: G. Cikurai, G. Papandayan, G. Malabar, G. Caringin, G. Tilu, G. Patuha, G. Halu, G. Beser , G. Burangrang, G. Tangkuban Parahu, and G. Manglayang. All of these mountains are considered to be the most suitable places to grow this type of Arabica coffee with this extraordinary aroma. Even the greatness of the aroma and taste of KJP has been recognized by the world since the colonial era, and was further strengthened by becoming the 1st place winner in a kind of coffee competition in Atlanta, US in 2016 (you can search for news on Google yourself, there are many) that's really an achievement, right..

So, following up on the information, finally my team and I (cieee.. It seems really serious..) went on an expedition, and chose Mt. Manglayang as the target of the operation, since it is the closest one to my house😁 to find out the truth about this Java Preanger Coffee, don't -Don't just Hoax.. Hehehe

If from Ujung Berung (the foot of Mount Manglayang) you only have to go up "a little" approximately 25 km to reach the Palintang area, where Java Preanger Coffee (KJP) is cultivated by local farmers. Vehicles can enter, the road is pretty good, but if you want to walk, that's fine too.. 😂. What I saw for the G version of KJP. Manglayang's cultivation is still very traditional, so the coffee is indeed cultivated by local farmers, there is no interference from big companies, let alone foreign companies so it's not openly exploited for commercial needs. I don't know about KJP which grows in 10 other mountains..

(Java Preanger G. Manglayang Coffee, Bandung)

This is what my husband bought for me at home (glasses are not included, it's a photo property only) , and you know what, if you think we bought this coffee in a place like a gift center, you are wrong... Hehe, my initial expectations were what For sale there will be along Palintang road, there are only pine trees along the road and only coffee is planted in between, we got this at a small shop, we searched for it all the way to the top, it felt like 2/3 of the way to the top I guess.. Hehe and the price turned out to be quite expensive (added to the struggle). According to information, the price of the coffee beans per kilo is in the range of 200 - 600 thousand (more expensive than Luwak coffee?), coincidentally the shop we visited was selling coffee beans at a rate of 300 thousand per kilo. There are also those that have been sold, just brew, the price per ounce (100g) is 35 thousand - 40 thousand, The one in the picture is the Natural type, the price is 40 thousand, there is the Honey type, the price is 35 thousand. Here, if you're curious about the place to sell it, it's far from the word cafe nowadays...:

(Java Preanger Coffee Shop, Palintang, G. Manglayang)

Maybe some people don't believe it, but from a place like this, there is a taste of coffee that beats the taste of coffee like the Sta***cks coffee shop. Just choose your actual coffee destination, do you want real coffee or coffee for style.. 😊 unbelievable!

In the shop, it's not just raw, there is also brewed coffee, one cup costs 10 thousand, more expensive than brewing satan coffee, but... Again, how much do you do when you drink coffee at the cafe? You actually pay a lot more for the place than the coffee.. Wkkkkk (while shaking your index finger in a wave style..).

But because we bought something to take home at this "cafe" in the end we only ate fried reinforcements and gehu + rice cake. After that, he went home.. It was only out of curiosity about the taste, a bit of a subordinate there was another cafe, this one looks more like a hangout, because he has a special parking place and in the shop there are chairs too, now take a photo of a cup of coffee at the beginning of your article read this, got it from this shop, the price is cheaper, only 5 thousand. Sometimes it's funny, the place downstairs is better, I thought the price was more expensive than the stall above, it turned out to be wrong again.. Hehe

(Coffee Shop Pondok Sunda Buhun)

As for the taste, I think the aroma is the best, I've smelled coffee all my life, this is the only thing that thrills my heart.. Cie.. Cie (yeah, smell the coffee ssetan mulu anyway..) if it tastes, it's coincidental that the order is brewed coffee, I just tasted a teaspoon and didn't use sugar, the taste was very bitter, not strong, and there was a taste of herbs, it's hard to describe. But my husband said it was delicious, even though it still left a sour taste in the throat (this doesn't take long for the fermentation process, I guess..). As for the color, it's not really black, it's a bit greenish brown, I don't know because it's actually like this or the process is different. Said teteh who sells it, usually KJP is mixed with brown sugar, if you want it to be sweet, but there is white sugar. When the sugar is poured in, the taste is more human.

The texture of the coffee grounds itself isn't too smooth, right, viewers. It's different from the coffee that's circulating in the market. Here, I opened the sample from the ready-to-drink coffee that I brought home.

(Java Preanger Coffee Texture)

So, for coffee lovers, you can directly visit the mountains mentioned above, because in modern cafes, it's still difficult to get Espresso using KJP coffee beans. But if those who are lazy come directly to the place of cultivation, just sit back and buy at the online shop, there are already those who sell it😁.