Bahenap Coffee

Borneo Coffee sensation

Bahenap Coffee is the pride of West Kalimantan! This unique brew boasts the exotic Heart of Borneo (HoB) flavor that you won't find anywhere else in the world.

So, what makes Bahenap coffee truly special? Here's what we've discovered about this remarkable coffee.

Bahenap coffee is allowed to flourish within the forests of Kalimantan, in the region known as the Heart of Borneo, precisely in Bahenap Village, Kapuas Hulu Regency, about 1000 kilometers from the capital of West Kalimantan Province.

Although it originates from the robusta variety, which was cultivated during the Japanese occupation of the Dutch East Indies, the trees have undergone adaptation processes to the climatology of Borneo Island.

Bahenap Village is not situated in high mountainous terrain, but rather at an elevation of only about 230-800 meters above sea level. This is vastly different from coffees with origins in Sulawesi, Aceh, Sumatra, and Java.

Bahenap coffee grows organically, untouched by fertilizers or pesticides. The trees soar high amidst other endemic Borneo trees in the lush rainforest, which is still rich in genetic resources and nutrients, differing from other islands in the archipelago. This greatly influences the distinctive taste and aroma of Bahenap's unique coffee.

Due to its habitat, rich in oxygen and natural energy, some believe that Bahenap coffee contains elements of energy essential for maintaining good health. In fact, some local residents claim that Bahenap coffee, when consumed in specific doses, can function as medicine.

Lastly, most of the coffee available in the markets in Pontianak and its surrounding areas is from outside the island, processed and given local branding, as West Kalimantan does not have a coffee hub. Therefore, the discovery of Bahenap coffee by coffee enthusiasts in the Pontianak market is both a hope and a challenge.

Unfortunately, the production of Bahenap coffee is still very rare, as it is not cultivated on an economic scale and is still processed traditionally.

Bahenap Village and Coffee Bahenap Village, located in the Kalis District, Kapuas Hulu Regency, is poised to become an organic coffee hub in the region. To achieve this, the Department of Agriculture and Food of Kapuas Hulu Regency has prepared a series of strategies to ensure that organic coffee becomes a new source of income for the local community.

"Bahenap Village has the potential and is also a producer of coffee commodities. We will maximize that and aim for it to become a coffee producer in Kapuas Hulu," said the Head of the Department of Agriculture and Food of Kapuas Hulu, Abdurrasyid, in Putussibau, in an interview with Antara News in 2019.

Abdurrasyid explained that recently, he conducted a survey of coffee plantation land, along with the socialization of the development of community-based coffee plantations in Bahenap Village.

"To support the economy of the community and make Bahenap Village a coffee hub, we are providing 3,600 coffee seedlings for farmers in the village," he said.

Abdurrasyid hopes that the provision of coffee seedlings will help the community in developing Bahenap coffee and create a marketing system that can be directly sold by coffee farmers, rather than being collected by middlemen or brokers.

"The selling value of Bahenap coffee is quite high because Bahenap coffee is organic and of premium quality," he emphasized.

Abdurrasyid assures that there's no need to worry about the coffee market, as almost everyone enjoys coffee. Therefore, the opportunities for coffee are wide open.

"The plan for coffee development has long been in place. This is because coffee-producing areas also exist in several villages in Kapuas Hulu, including in Bahenap. The demand for coffee is high because the market is vast," he explained.

Apart from being a coffee producer, Bahenap Village is also home to cocoa, stink beans, and pepper. As for horticultural commodities, they cultivate red and white ginger, turmeric, and more.

Furthermore, Bahenap is also developing the breeding of mahseer fish and goldfish.

The journey to Bahenap can only be undertaken by motorcycle from the district road, taking about three hours. The rocky terrain and numerous hills make the journey even more extreme.

For those curious about the cheerful side of Bahenap coffee, please watch the travel video created by Paul Tao Widodo about the coffee from the Heart of Borneo through the following this link.