Starbucks Reserve? West Java Indonesia

You know that Java is synonymous with coffee – but did you know that most of its coffee is grown on the eastern side of the island? That’s where Java’s large coffee-growing estates are located. Only a few small farms are brave enough to make a go of it on the island’s western half, which is far rainier and more rugged.

West Java coffee is grown in a thick rainforest on top of a volcanic mountain at 5,000 feet. The mountainside is so steep that the last 2,000 feet must be climbed on foot – when you’re caring for coffee, that’s a lot of trips up and down. When harvest comes, the coffee cherry is brought by motor scooter,, a few bushels at a time, along narrow paths to processing stations.

All of this work would not be worth it if the coffee were anything less than exquisite. Fortunately, West Java doesn’t disappoint. In the cup, it has a sweet,, herbal complexity with a silky milk chocolate flavor and texture. It’s reminiscent of the much-loved Starbucks Reserve? Blue Java coffee we’ve had in seasons past,, yet surprisingly new and different.