Very few places in the entire world are as famous for coffee as Indonesia. Even in the U.S., people will ask for a ‘cup of java’ rather than a cup of coffee. The Javanese soil and people have been producing coffee for a lost amount of years and continue to produce some of the best in the world. One of the most famous examples is Kopi Luwak, with its strange processing methods, resulting in it being the most expensive coffee in the world.
Whereas coffee beans are an important element at the beginning of good coffee, the journey of mastering the coffee arts does not end there. Freshness, expertise, care and love for brewing coffee are all needed to not only make great coffee but maintain the high standards which are expected from coffee lovers in today’s market.
There is a multitude of methods and techniques used to brew coffee with some using technology to enhance their brew and others using more traditional means. The first method is the fast extraction of pressure brewing, which is often used to get an intense espresso. Next is the overly-familiar method of steeping that can be seen anywhere with ‘French press’. The method simply involves mixing coffee grinds directly with hot water, allowing the two to work their magic.
These days the really popular methods are filtration or drip coffee. The long process of using this method is as much about flavour complexity as it is about showcasing the expertise of the barista. There are over ten specialised filtration or drip coffee makers that are used around the world and each one has a different way of using gravity and time to create the perfect coffee.
Finally there is the original method of boiling. Now although there a lot of gimmicks and method sometimes the best is the original. A perfect example of this would be the Turkish coffee, which has been passed down since 1299. The skill involved in using such a simple method that creates some of the strongest coffee is something every coffee lover should try.
No matter the method, the love and care are all present in the Yogyakarta’s coffee community. Our very own Inspira Roasters will be taking part in the 2019 Nordic Travel Fair in Helsinki, Finland, presenting Yogyakarta’s coffee culture to the international market. Working out of a passion for coffee and its ability to bring people together in order to create amazing conversation and ideas, Inspira Roasters are a sign that Yogyakarta is a truly safe place to get an amazing ‘cup of java.’
