The area on the slopes of Mount Lawu in Poncol District, Magetan Regency, holds agricultural wealth in the form of coffee plants that have been cultivated since the Dutch colonial era. To this day, local farmers still maintain the original Robusta, Arabica, and Excelsa varieties, whose bean characteristics are claimed to have undergone no genetic changes despite being over a century old.
Santoso, one of the farmers in Alastuwo Village, revealed that the authenticity of the coffee in the Mount Tambal area is maintained thanks to stem cutting propagation methods from old trees. According to him, the size of the coffee beans, which tend to be smaller than those in other regions, is a key indicator that the plants are pure seedlings inherited from the past without crossbreeding.
Among the existing varieties, Excelsa coffee has a unique appeal with a distinctive aroma resembling jackfruit, leading local residents to often nickname it "Jackfruit Coffee." Although harvesting is challenging due to the tall tree structure, this type of coffee maintains a stable market share outside the region, particularly in Solo and Karanganyar, with selling prices reaching IDR 110,000 per kilogram for roasted beans.
The local government, through Field Agricultural Extension Officers (PPL), continues to provide strategic support to optimize the coffee potential in Poncol. Currently, around 720 farmers manage tens of hectares of coffee land. With available dry land reaching up to 2,200 hectares, this sector is projected to grow further through synergistic academic guidance and facility assistance from the Department of Agriculture.
Along with growing market interest in quality local coffee, the marketing of coffee from Poncol has now penetrated outside regions. This step is expected to improve farmers' welfare while strengthening Magetan coffee's identity as a flagship commodity of high economic value on the national stage.
