Kopi Kukang and Owa Coffee Enliven Malioboro Coffee Night 2023

JAWI — In celebration of Yogyakarta’s 267th anniversary and International Coffee Day, the Javan Wildlife Institute (JAWI), together with SwaraOwa, took part in enlivening the city’s anniversary series through Malioboro Coffee Night 2023. The event, held from October 1–6, 2023, involved dozens of local coffee communities and entrepreneurs from across Indonesia. On this occasion, JAWI introduced Kopi Kukang through the Owa Coffee booth owned by SwaraOwa.

“The definition of good coffee is relative—it depends on personal taste. What matters most is creating a sense of comfort,” said a barista who had been attending the Ruby Coffee booth since the afternoon. Their booth was located just three to four stalls away from ours. A similar opinion was shared by a barista from Bandung who was preparing a unique coffee blend with torch ginger (kecombrang) at the Siki Coffee booth. He paused for a moment when asked about the definition of good coffee, then replied that it all comes back to personal preference.

When it comes to coffee flavor, everyone has their own preferences. Whether arabica or robusta, each has its own enthusiasts. Preferences for strong or light flavors also depend on the drinker. From Sabang to Merauke, from Gayo to Wamena, each region offers its own distinctive taste. But one thing we all understand—where there is coffee, there is a story.

Through Malioboro Coffee Night 2023, Kopi Kukang sought not only to serve coffee but also to share a story. What makes this local coffee from Kemuning Forest, Temanggung—grown under a shade-grown coffee concept—special? Perhaps nothing extraordinary at first glance. However, we strive to infuse it with a spirit of conservation. The Javan slow loris, an endangered primate, serves as the proud mascot of Kopi Kukang. The goal is simple: to introduce this shy primate through every cup of coffee we serve. More than just a symbol, Kopi Kukang is cultivated within the natural habitat of the Javan slow loris, where local communities rely on coffee farming under forest canopy for their livelihoods. The hope is that Kopi Kukang can create synergy between conservation efforts and the economic development of local communities in Kemuning Forest.

Products displayed at the Owa Coffee booth

We also found inspiring stories about coffee and conservation from Klasik Beans, a booth located right next to the entrance. Neatly arranged coffee seedlings displayed in front of their booth caught our attention—these seedlings were grown from the finest coffee beans across Indonesia. “We plant these seedlings together with local communities in West Java,” they explained. Previously, Klasik Beans had also participated in tree-planting activities on land that is now used for their coffee plantations. Similar to us, they apply the shade-grown coffee concept. One thing we truly appreciated from our casual conversation—while enjoying a local coffee from North Sumatra—was their commitment to organic farming. Despite the convenience and higher yields associated with chemical fertilizers, they remain dedicated to organic methods. Although organic coffee production may result in lower yields and smaller beans, they continue to uphold this approach with a clear goal: maintaining quality while protecting the environment.

Atmosphere during free coffee distribution in front of Plaza Malioboro

In addition to participating in the Malioboro Coffee Night exhibition at Menara Kopi Malioboro for six days, JAWI together with Owa Coffee also took part in a free coffee distribution event held on the final night in front of Plaza Malioboro (October 6). Although we only provided a limited number of Kopi Kukang samples, we hoped it would help promote Kopi Kukang and its conservation message to the public.

The full event video can be watched here: https://youtu.be/mVARMKTYGPY?si=o3HsNf3FYg5zAHjM