At an altitude of 1,500 meters above sea level, the thin fog of Kamojang not only brings a cold that penetrates to the bones but also the distinct aroma of wet earth and petrichor.
Among the stands of trees and coffee plantations in Bandung Regency, West Java, two farmers walk side by side. Their sturdy steps follow the paths of giant pipes belonging to PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy (PGE) Tbk Kamojang Area. These iron pipes channel dense steam from the earth's core, a symbol of modernity that, instead of destroying nature, has now become the lifeblood for local coffee farmers.
Kamojang is not a new region on Indonesia's energy map. This place harbors a long history as the home for the first geothermal power plant (PLTP) in the country. Approaching a century of its journey, Kamojang has proven that renewable energy is not only about the megawatts fed into the national grid but also about how the warmth from within the earth can directly touch, nurture, and enliven the local economy.
A barista is preparing to brew coffee at the Ecovill Coffee Shop, Bandung Regency, West Java.
Coffee farmer Dede (right) together with Nono Supriatno (left) walks past the Pertamina Geothermal Energy (PGE) Tbk geothermal power plant pipeline to pick coffee beans at the Kamojang area coffee plantation, Bandung Regency, West Java.
One of the greatest blessings that arose from this highland soil is Kamojang Arabica coffee, a special premium commodity that thrives thanks to the preserved climate and ecosystem.
However, for traditional coffee farmers, their greatest enemy remains the same: the weather. In mountainous areas that are often drenched by rain and shrouded in high humidity, the post-harvest process, especially the drying of coffee beans, often becomes a strenuous gamble.
"Before we had this heating room, the drying process used to take a long time, sometimes a month or more. When it rains, it is troublesome," reflected Aldin Gymnastiars, a coffee farmer from the Ecovill group.
Coffee farmer Dede (right) together with Nono Supriatno (left) picks coffee beans at the Kamojang area coffee plantation, Bandung Regency, West Java.
Coffee farmer Dede shows the coffee beans that have been picked at the Kamojang area coffee plantation, Bandung Regency, West Java.
His statement echoes the collective anxiety that has haunted hundreds of farmers for years. Coffee that remains wet for too long risks mold growth, diminishing quality, and automatically lowering market prices.
To address this anxiety, an eco-friendly innovation emerged from a collaboration between local coffee entrepreneurs and PGE: the Geothermal Dry House. This innovation utilizes geothermal steam traps as an alternative heat source channeled into the drying rooms.
With this technology, complete reliance on sunlight has been reduced. What used to be a drying process that took up to 45 days during the rainy season, now accelerates to only three to ten days. An operational leap that enhances efficiency by up to 300 percent.
Ecovill coffee farmer Aldin Gymnastiar prepares fermentation equipment for coffee bean processing at the Geothermal Dry House, Kamojang Area, Bandung Regency, West Java.
Ecovill coffee farmer Dudit Pratama Muhrim (left) dries coffee beans while a Pertamina Geothermal Energy (PGE) Tbk worker checks the geothermal power plant pipeline network at the Geothermal Dry House, Kamojang Area, Bandung Regency, West Java.
For Aldin and hundreds of other farmers, the geothermal blessing feels like a miracle directly bestowed by nature. The hygienic process and controlled temperature inside the Dry House produce coffee beans with consistent maturity and preserved quality.
This added value elevates Kamojang coffee in the eyes of coffee enthusiasts worldwide.
The existence of the Geothermal Dry House has now forged a strong sense of unity in Kamojang.
Ecovill coffee farmer Dudit Pratama Muhrim carries dried coffee beans at the Geothermal Dry House, Kamojang Area, Bandung Regency, West Java.
Coffee farmers walk towards the Geothermal Dry House in Kamojang Area, Bandung Regency, West Java.
PGE does not stand alone; they embrace and partner with three local farmer groups: Ecovill, Akkar, and Penyoeka Kopi. This collaboration successfully empowers at least 320 coffee farming families, transforming past anxiety into collective optimism for future prosperity.
This hard work, combined with green technological innovation, finally bears sweet fruit. Kamojang Arabica coffee is no longer merely enjoyed in local cafes but has ventured worldwide, penetrating international markets from Asia to Europe with export volumes reaching 20 tons per year.
A hundred-year journey of geothermal energy in Indonesia leaves an important note that the best energy is sustainable energy, which originates from the native potential of the earth and can grow in harmony with human welfare.
Coffee beans are roasted using a certain heat level at the Ecovill Coffee Shop, Bandung Regency, West Java.
A coffee roaster carries roasted coffee beans at the Ecovill Coffee Shop, Bandung Regency, West Java.
From behind the Kamojang fog and through a cup of warm coffee that has gone global, a strong message is sent to all corners of the earth that industry and nature can walk hand in hand for a greener future.
Photo & Text: Muhammad Adimaja
A barista serves coffee to customers at the Ecovill Coffee Shop, Bandung Regency, West Java.
A customer shows the dried coffee at the Geothermal Dry House in the Ecovill Coffee Shop, Bandung Regency, West Java.
Editor: Widodo S Jusuf
The caption is automatically translated by application. Click here for the Bahasa Indonesia version.
