Uniquely, West Papua Robusta coffee tends to be allowed to grow naturally. Not much treatment to increase crop yields. Papuan farmers just let it go because, according to farmers, Robusta coffee will thrive even if they are left alone. With a semi-forest garden pattern, coffee yields are minimal, not enough to meet market demand.
Papua is not only known for its Arabica coffee. However, robusta coffee is also grown in several districts in Papua. Robusta coffee in Papua is grown at an altitude of 20-1000 masl. The famous robusta coffees in Papua are Ambaidiru Yapen Coffee, Agimuga Mimika, Anggi Arfak Mountains, and coffee from the Grime Valley of Jayapura.
Only Yapen, Mimika, Arfak Mountains, and Jayapura Regency have robusta coffee plantations. This robusta coffee plant is planted with a semi-forested pattern (agroforestry).
Types of West Papua Robusta Coffee
Drinking coffee has not become the daily culture of local people, especially in the West Papua region. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t find Manokwari cafes or coffee shops. One of the most visited by coffee lovers is the Mambruk Café.
Located on Jalan Jambu, Reremi, you can enjoy various types of coffee, both from Papua and other regions in Indonesia and from abroad. The multiple choices of coffee provided make anyone free to sip their favorite coffee while relaxing at this cafe.
1. Senang Coffee
Tourists who visit Raja Ampat know the city of Sorong as a producer of the best robusta coffee called Kopi Selamat. Tourists who vacation in Raja Ampat while staying at tourist sites will be served Senang coffee. When tourists return from Raja Ampat to Jakarta, they always bring this Senang Coffee as souvenirs.
The combination of coffee beans from various regions makes the aroma of the coffee fragrant. Senang Coffee is known for its robusta bean coffee powder with a distinctive smell.
However, the taste of this Senang coffee is still inferior to the aroma of Arabica coffee in Papua, such as Moanemani, Wamena, and Amungme coffees.
2. Ambaidiru Yapen Coffee
The coffee used in Ambaidiru Yapen is produced on a plantation in the West Papuan settlement of Ambaidiru. It smells strong and has a peculiar bitter flavor that is excellent. This Ambaidiru coffee plantation has been under development by the local authorities since 2004.
3. Agimuga Mimika Coffee
The Ambai Islands’ Ambaidiru settlement is home to a coffee plantation where Ambaidiru Yapen is produced. It tastes strongly of bitterness and is more robust than Arabica. Another well-known West Papua Robusta coffee comes from the Agimuga District in the Mimika Regency.
4. Anggi Coffee from Arfak Mountains
At the height of 1,800 meters above sea level, coffee plants grow surrounding Lake Anggi, where the Arfak Mountains’ Anggi Coffee is produced. Anggi Coffee is earthy and has a harsh, rubbery/grain-like flavor with a peanutty aftertaste. However, it shares a flavor note with Agimuga Mimika Coffee.
5. Kemtuk Jayapura Coffee
This West Papua Robusta coffee is produced in Jayapura, Papua, in Kemtuk Lembah Grime. Since the Dutch era, this region has been a significant hub for cocoa growing. Robusta coffee from Kemtuk has an earthy, bitter, and dark chocolate flavor because it is intercropped with cocoa trees.
Here are a Few Reasons to Drink West Papua Robusta offee
Leaf rust disease is not a problem for robusta coffee. Robusta coffee, therefore, generates a profit of roughly 22%. This coffee has a lesser fruit quality than Arabica coffee, but Robusta coffee has a greater fruit quality than Liberica coffee. Additionally, this coffee doesn’t have a sour flavor, unlike robusta coffee. This robusta:
- is believed to be able to restore scars after gingivectomy
- this Robusta is effective in suppressing weight gain, liver steatosis, and increasing insulin sensitivity
- is known to have antibacterial effects that are good for oral health.
- green bean extract can heal wounds on the skin quickly
- turns out to be able to maintain skin health and beauty
Wrapping Up
There is no denying the popularity of West Papuan Arabica coffee. Their Papua Wamena was one of Indonesia’s greatest coffees, with East Nusa Tenggara’s Flores, West Java’s Malabar, Celebes’ Toraja, and Aceh’s Gayo.
In contrast, West Papua Robusta Coffee market is less than Arabica’s. However, there is a promise, and interest in Papua Robusta among the general population has grown.
