Indonesian Coffee Shines at Tokyo's SCAJ 2026: A Taste of the Archipelago

The SCAJ World Specialty Coffee Conference and Exhibition 2026, held from October 14 to 16 at Tokyo Big Sight, has become a vibrant platform for Indonesian coffee producers. The Indonesian pavilion has drawn significant interest from Japanese visitors, eager to experience the rich flavors of Indonesian coffee.

Adi Taroepratjeka, a 1st Grader Instructor and Director at 5758 Coffee Lab, highlighted the unique offerings from Indonesia, stating that the theme ranges from West Java to East Java and that the coffee is very fragrant and delightful, especially the brew from Gunung Buthak. This mountainous region, located at an elevation of 2,868 meters on the border of Malang and Blitar districts, is known for its diverse coffee processing methods, including anaerobic, full wash, honey, and natural processes.

“The theme ranges from West Java to East Java and the coffee is very fragrant and delightful, especially the brew from Gunung Buthak.”Adi Taroepratjeka, Director, 5758 Coffee Lab

Visitors like Junko Uesugi traveled from Kyoto to Tokyo specifically to attend this event, expressing her delight after tasting the coffee. She said it was her first time trying coffee from East Java and that it was delicious and very fruity.

According to data from the International Trade Centre, Indonesia's coffee exports have shown significant growth, with values rising from $929.1 million in 2023 to $1.64 billion in 2024, and further to $2.51 billion by 2025. However, the country's share of the Japanese coffee import market remains modest at around 2.7%, indicating substantial room for growth.

“Bank Indonesia is serious about developing Indonesian coffee products for export and the selected MSMEs have undergone a curation process to ensure they meet the tastes of the Japanese market.”Ricky P. Gozali, Deputy Governor, Bank Indonesia

Ricky P. Gozali, Deputy Governor of Bank Indonesia, emphasized the bank's commitment to enhancing the quality of Indonesian coffee for export. He said that Bank Indonesia is serious about developing Indonesian coffee products for export and that the selected micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) have undergone a curation process to ensure they meet the tastes of the Japanese market. This effort aims to improve farmers' livelihoods and boost the local economy.

Japan's coffee consumption is on the rise, with per capita consumption reaching 3.65 kilograms in 2023 and expected to reach 3.73 kilograms by 2028, according to Report Linker.

“Enhancing productivity through better seeds and farming techniques is essential for increasing export performance.”Sujonsen, Daily Chair, Indonesian Coffee Exporters Association

Despite challenges such as low productivity among Indonesian coffee farmers—averaging only 700-800 kilograms per hectare compared to 2 tons in Vietnam—efforts are underway to improve farming practices and ensure price stability for farmers. Sujonsen, Daily Chair of the Indonesian Coffee Exporters Association (AEKI), noted that enhancing productivity through better seeds and farming techniques is essential for increasing export performance.

As Indonesia continues to strengthen its coffee export strategy, the collaboration between Bank Indonesia, the Indonesian Embassy in Tokyo, and various ministries aims to promote the unique qualities of Indonesian coffee.