Java Coffee

Coffee is one of the most liked beverages in the world. A mug of coffee is also called "a cup of joe". Now here the question arises what Java coffee is. Java coffee is the name of the beverage coffee, and it is called so because of its place of origin.

History of Java coffee

The history of java coffee dates back to 1690 when the Dutch smuggled the coffee plant from Arab and started to grow it on an Island named Java in Indonesia. At that time, Island java was the main source of coffee in the world. The coffee acquired the name Java coffee on the name of Island Java, where it was grown first.

Meaning of the word Java

Java means a cup of coffee. Java coffee especially refers to a special kind of Arabica coffee bean that is grown on Java Island. However, the word Java has different meanings. Technically, Java is a high-level computer programming language, but the word also describes many other things like a hot cup of coffee, etc. The logo and name of Java programming are also based on Java coffee. The logo of Java looked like a coffee mug with steam over it. The concept behind this logo is that when the engineers were developing the programming language Java, they were consuming a lot of coffee named Java coffee beans. And this was the main reason that the founder of the programming language named their program Java on the name of Java coffee and also created a logo that resembled a coffee mug.

Story of Java coffee with its different variety

In the 1880s, Java Island, when it was the world's largest producer of coffee, faced a great loss. A rust plague that is started from Sukabumi gradually spread across Central and East Java. The plague destroyed the crops of Java coffee and also lost the plantation stocks. At that time, Java Island mostly produced Arabica coffee beans which are considered the best coffee beans. But, most of the plantation stock was lost in the plague, so after the plague, the Dutch planted new varieties, first Liberica and after then Robusta. These species were disease-resistant but lower in quality than Arabica.

After the plague, 90% of the coffee crop on Java Island was Robusta. Due to its very small production as only 10 % of total coffee production, Arabica coffee has the higher prices, and it was the main imported coffee in the United States and Canada. Since still it is produced by the old estates, it is included in some of the finest coffees in the world.

Java Arabica coffee is also called Mocha Java and Yemen Mocha due to its use in the traditional blend. Actually, in 1690 the Dutch smuggled the coffee plant from the Arab Port of Mocha, and after that, it began to grow in Java.

The other variety of Java coffee is Monsoonal coffee beans. It is labelled as Old Java coffee, Old Government coffee, and Old Brown Java coffee. These coffee beans are prepared in a different way. In this process, unroasted green coffee beans are mansooned (a process in which the coffee beans leave to moist, warm air throughout the rainy season). This process is a very long process that strengthens the coffee beans and increases their taste and sweetness. Due to the process, the color of the coffee beans also changes into light brown color and its acidity is decreased.

Some facts about Java coffee

• It is grown on Java Island in Indonesia, especially on the east side in the ljen volcano complex on the ljen plateau at an elevation of 1400 meters.
• The Java island is not only popular for its coffee, but it is also an attractive tourist place due to its beautiful and panoramic view as well as friendly culture.
• If we see the agricultural process of Java coffee, its best harvest time is May & June to August & September. It is grown at an altitude of 750 to 1550 meters above sea level. During the process in the mill, it is washed and dried in the sunlight.
• Some important characteristic of Java coffee is its aroma that is nutty. Its flavor is chocolaty, sweet, malty, and nutty. Its acidity is bright, and its body is effervescent.
• If we compare a good quality Java coffee with other Indonesian coffees, it is lighter and less acidic than other Indonesian coffees despite its heavy body. It has low-toned richness, which is typically found in almost all other coffee of Indonesia and New Guinea.
• A cup of java coffee can be finished quicker than other coffee due to its little spicy or smoky twist. After finishing, it leaves a sweet impression.
• The finest Java coffee was grown in the 5 largest estates on Java Island. The Dutch government founded those estates in the 18th century spread in more than 4000 hectares. The name of those estates is Djampit, Blawan, Pancoer, and Kayumas, in which Djampit was the largest producer of Java coffee.
• The good soil and good rain on Java Island make it suitable for agriculture, especially for coffee. Now Indonesia is the fourth largest coffee exporter in the world and one of the best quality coffee exporters in the world. In the production of coffee, Brazil is at the top, followed by Vietnam and Colombia.
• Apart from coffee Java is also an exporter of Tobacco, Cocoa and Tea, Palm oil, and Spices (Cloves, Cinnamon, Sugarcane, etc.)