Behind the cool air of the slopes of Mount Lawu, specifically in Poncol Subdistrict, Magetan Regency, lies a historical footprint preserved in the form of coffee plants. Hundreds of local farmers still cultivate coffee seedlings inherited from the Dutch colonial era, with some trees over a century old. The preserved authenticity of this unhybridized variety remains the main attraction for domestic coffee lovers.
One local farmer, Santoso (57), revealed that the superiority of the coffee in his region lies in its smaller bean size, which nevertheless yields a highly concentrated flavor profile. Thanks to stem cutting techniques passed down through generations from a 100-year-old mother tree in his yard, he now manages up to 3,000 coffee trees across three different locations. The yield from his farm can reach up to one ton per harvest season.
In addition to the popular Robusta variety, farmers also cultivate Excelsa coffee, locally known as "Kopi Nangka" (Jackfruit Coffee) due to its unique aroma resembling jackfruit. Although this variety is relatively rare, accounting for only about 2 percent of the global population, it remains highly attractive to specific markets in Solo and Karanganyar. Currently, the selling price at the farmer level is Rp100,000 for Robusta and Rp110,000 for Excelsa per kilogram of green beans ready for roasting.
Government support for this sector has also grown increasingly massive. The Agricultural Extension Officer (PPL) of Poncol Subdistrict, Sayogo Pamungkas, noted that there are now about 720 farmers spread across eight villages, with a total productive land area of 30 hectares. His office continues to facilitate farmer groups with seed assistance, fertilizer, and post-harvest processing technology guidance in cooperation with higher education institutions to expand market reach beyond East Java province.
