Indonesia is one of the top coffee producing countries in the world, and is home to several islands that are renowned for their coffee. There are a vast number of Indonesian coffee brands that represent a large number of distinguished regions. When it comes to Indonesian coffee, it can be hard to know where to start!

We've put together a list of 7 of the best Indonesian coffees available! These Indonesian beans come from several different islands spread through out this vast country. We highly recommend giving each of these a try!

Having trouble deciding? While we highly recommend all of these Indonesian coffee beans, if we absolutely had to pick one, it would be Bali Blue Moon. But it really comes down to personal preference!

There is plenty of variation among Indonesian beans, but to give you a general sense, you can expect your Indonesian coffee to be something like this... 

Earthy flavors are somewhat of an acquired taste, and it is for that reason that Indonesian coffees are often held in the highest of regard by more experienced coffee drinkers. 

The history of coffee in Indonesia dates back to the late 17th century during the Dutch colonial period. Coffee was initially brought to Indonesia from Yemen, a major coffee producer at the time. The Dutch were particularly interested in cultivating coffee in their colonies to break the Arab monopoly on coffee trade and establish their own supply. The first coffee plants were introduced in the early 18th century on the island of Java, hence the name "Java coffee" becoming synonymous with Indonesian coffee.

The Dutch colonial government established large-scale coffee plantations in various regions, primarily on the islands of Java, Sumatra, and Sulawesi. They utilized forced labor, known as the "cultuurstelsel" system, where local farmers were required to allocate a portion of their land for coffee cultivation. This system greatly expanded coffee production in the Dutch East Indies (present-day Indonesia) during the 19th century.

Java coffee quickly gained a reputation for its high quality and became one of the most sought-after coffees in the world. However, the Dutch monopoly on coffee production came to an end in the early 20th century. In 1876, a devastating coffee leaf rust disease (Hemileia vastatrix) outbreak hit Indonesia, decimating large portions of the coffee plantations. To combat the disease, the Dutch introduced a different coffee variety, Coffea liberica, which was more resistant to the disease but had a less favorable taste profile compared to Arabica coffee.

The coffee industry in Indonesia suffered another blow during World War II when the Japanese occupied the country and disrupted coffee production. After Indonesia gained independence in 1945, efforts were made to revive and modernize the coffee industry. This included the promotion of Arabica coffee cultivation and the establishment of cooperatives to support small-scale farmers.

Today, Indonesia is one of the world's largest coffee producers and exporters, renowned for its unique and distinct coffee varieties. In recent years, specialty coffee has gained popularity in Indonesia, with a growing focus on quality, sustainability, and direct trade relationships between coffee farmers and buyers. The diverse landscapes and microclimates across the Indonesian archipelago contribute to the country's rich coffee heritage and the production of unique and diverse coffee flavors.

Coffee connoisseur or not, we believe that Indonesia has a lot to offer. We have recommendations from four different islands below. If you're interested in hearing a little about each of these islands, we've got you covered. If not, you can skip to the 7 best Indonesian coffees!

In terms of coffee production, Sumatra is the most recognizable and highly regarded island. Sumatra coffee beans are considered to be some of the best in the world. Sumatra coffee profiles are full, heavy bodied coffees with low acidity and high earthy character. Often including sweet chocolate and spicy notes, these profiles are complex and exquisite. The best Sumatra coffees are simply sublime.

That place you’ve probably heard of from that friend you have who has vacationed on their beautiful beaches. Bali coffee also happens to be top notch! Typically grown in the central Kintamani Highlands, the profiles that Bali offers are rich and significantly less earthy than many other Indonesian coffees.

Java is literally used as slang for the word coffee, that’s how acclaimed it is. You’ve most likely heard of Mocha Java coffee before. Mocha Java is a classic blend of beans from Mocha, Yemen and Java, Indonesian. This blend is thought to have pioneered the concept of, well, blending coffee beans. Many quality blends now exist that use beans of similar profiles to create the highly sought after Mocha Java coffee taste. Although often overshadowed by the famous blend, Java also produces some very high quality single origin coffee beans. We have represented both types of Java coffee in our list!

Another pretty well represented island when it comes to high end coffees. These profiles tend to be have exotic aroma and a rustic sweetness. Sulawesi coffees typically include notes of fruit and chocolate. While maintaining the earthy quality that is characteristic of Indonesian coffees, these varieties manage a smooth, even silky mouthfeel.

A quick word on cat poop coffee. Excuse me? Yes you heard correctly, civet cat poop coffee, or Kopi Luwak coffee. You may have heard of Kopi Luwak, which is often cited and marketed as the most expensive coffee in the world (it isn’t anymore).

Kopi Luwak coffee is made from beans that have been ingested and excreted by a civet cat. The fermentation process that occurs during digestion in the stomach of the civet is said to give the excreted coffee beans desirable qualities. The high asking price of this coffee has lead to extreme animal cruelty whereby civets are caged and force-fed coffee cherries. This cruelty of this practice has become more widely recognized in recent years, but civet farming unfortunately still occurs. We recommend that you avoid Kopi Luwak coffee, as the demand for it drives the motive for civet farming.

We're pretty passionate about this issue. In fact, we have written an entire article on the topic. Check it out!

Without further adieu, here are our 7 best Indonesian coffee recommendations. We hope you find some new Indonesian coffee beans to try!

And there you have it, 7 of our favorite Indonesian coffees, each of which we highly recommend. If you have yet to try Indonesian coffee, one of these would be a great place to start. You have an extensive and tasty journey to look forward to! If you’re already a fan, hopefully we’ve given you something new to try!

Let us know which island provides your favorite coffee in Indonesia, and if you have any recommendations for us!