Sipping a cuppa in Deles, Central Java: A bean to brew experience on the slopes of Merapi

Wed, September 25, 2019 / 06:55 pm

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Arabica coffee fruits are ready for harvest on the slope of Mount Merapi, some 4 kilometers from the peak, in Klaten, Central Java. Coffee grows abundantly in the area, thanks to civets and locals who diligently collect the beans at harvest time. JP/Magnus Hendratmo
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Arabica coffee fruits are ready to harvest on the slope of Mount Merapi, some 4 kilometers from the peak, in Klaten, Central Java. A legacy of the Dutch colonial era, coffee trees grow abundantly on the borders of residents’ yards. Sukiman, 48, a local resident, started popularizing Merapi coffee in 2014. JP/Magnus Hendratmo
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Arabica coffee (Kopi Londo) plantations from the Dutch colonial era look almost lifeless on Thursday. Sukiman, 48, a resident of Deles village, Klaten regency, Central Java, has been encouraging his fellow villagers to plant coffee to improve their economy since 2014. JP/Magnus Hendratmo
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Sukiman harvests Arabica coffee beans on his plantation on Thursday. Sukiman started cultivating coffee in Deles village, Klaten regency, Central Java, in 2014. JP/Magnus Hendratmo
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Coffee beans are dried under the sun on Thursday. It takes up to a month for the beans to completely dry, Sukiman said. JP/Magnus Hendratmo
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Kopi Petruk (Petruk coffee) is the name given to coffee produced in Deles, Klaten regency, Central Java, on the slope of Mount Merapi. Petruk is the nickname given by locals for Mount Merapi to symbolize protection. JP/Magnus Hendratmo
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Sukiman sells a 250-gram pack of coffee powder for Rp 55,000 (US$3.92). Visitors will get a cup of coffee for free. JP/Magnus Hendratmo
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Kopi Petruk is the brand that Sukiman, a coffee farmer in Deles, Klaten regency, Central Java, uses for his coffee products. JP/Magnus Hendratmo
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Coffee beans are ready to be milled. The black coffee has a distinctive taste. JP/Magnus Hendratmo
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To maintain their quality, coffee beans are selected manually. The harvest of Arabica coffee in Deles, Klaten regency, Central Java, is limited as coffee trees are only grown as borders between residents’’ yards. When harvest time comes, regulars customers can place their order online with Sukiman. JP/Magnus Hendratmo
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Accuracy in selecting coffee beans ensures that only the best quality ones are roasted for the best taste. JP/Magnus Hendratmo

Magnus Hendratmo

Coffee enthusiasts might consider going to Deles in Klaten regency, Central Java, and enjoy sipping a cup of coffee amid the cold weather of the village, which is nestled on the slope of Mount Merapi.

When the sky is clear, the sandy peak of one of the world’s most active volcanoes looks like a natural painting with a blue sky as its canvas.

Light conversations over cups of the caffeinated beverage feels like a way to slow down the time in Deles village, dubbed a coffee lovers’ heaven.

Petruk is the name given to Deles coffee. For locals, Mbah Petruk is the nickname of Merapi, on whose slopes the coffee is produced, hence the name.

If you come to Deles, however, you won’t see an expanse of coffee plantations. Coffee trees grow only on the border of the yards of residents’ houses. They also grow wild on the edges of Woro cliff.

“Coffee grows wild in Deles, thanks to civets,” village resident Sukiman told The Jakarta Post.

He said that during the Dutch colonial era, Deles was a coffee plantation. When the area turned into residential complexes, coffee trees were used to mark the borders of neighboring yards.

In the past, people harvested coffee and sold it in the market. At present, the harvests are sold to Sukiman, who process them to be ready to brew on-site for visiting coffee lovers, or they are packed as souvenirs.

The great harvest takes place in June. It falls in the dry season when the peak of Merapi can usually be clearly seen from morning. In the full moon, Merapi is also visible at night, making it a sight to behold with a cup of coffee. (yun/mut)