Experimental fermentation in West-Java

“Kamala means lotus as well as pale red in Sanskrit. This taste profile is our take on what Indonesian coffees could be under innovative and experimental post-harvest processing techniques.”

Last October we had the pleasure of meeting the producers and community of Kamala Loa. After a windy 4 hour drive up from Bandung we found ourselves immersed in the thick forest of West Java. Greeted with open arms the team were very excited for us to try all their coffees! We were impressed with their experimentations and different lots they had to offer.

The Sunny collective is made up of farmers, processors and roasters whose main goal is to produce some of Indonesia’s highest quality coffees! It’s fantastic to see the producers growing, processing, milling, roasting, and brewing their own coffee all in one place. Their dedication and appreciation for coffee is truly admirable.

After a few brews we jumped in the back of their pick up and climbed the trails. We found ourselves in more of a forest than a typical coffee farm. Gum and pine trees towered over the coffee trees providing essential shade for even, slow maturity of the cherries. It was wonderful to see the ecosystem around the farm intact, bursting with biodiversity. The varieties found here are Typica and Bourbon - some of our favourites!