Bali coffee, particularly from regions like Kintamani and Batukaru, has garnered international attention, leading to a significant impact on tourism.
Indonesia, particularly Bali, thrives on its love for coffee. The country is renowned for producing exceptional and highly coveted coffee beans, attracting coffee enthusiasts from all corners of the globe.
Bali’s coffee, particularly from regions like Kintamani and Batukaru, has garnered international attention, leading to a significant impact on tourism. Local coffee entrepreneur and Kintamani coffee distributor, I Komang Sukarsana, highlights the escalating global demand for Bali coffee. He affirms that Bali coffee enjoys immense popularity worldwide, reaching as far as Sweden. Sukarsana notes that the trend of coffee connoisseurship is on the rise, not only among adults but also among the younger generation.
The unique flavor profiles of Kintamani coffee have played a pivotal role in catapulting Bali coffee to its global recognition. Several crucial factors contribute to the cultivation process, endowing Kintamani coffee with its iconic taste. These factors include the highland’s quality soil, temperature, and the surrounding plant varieties. Many small-scale coffee growers in Kintamani adopt companion planting techniques, while the fertilization methods employed by farmers further influence the coffee’s flavor.
The demand for Bali coffee continues to surge, both within the island and worldwide. The thriving cafe culture in Bali, coupled with the significant influx of tourists, has played a substantial role in promoting Bali coffee. With an estimated 4.5 million international visitors expected to travel to Bali this year, the demand for coffee is substantial.
Travel trends indicate that tourists seek immersive and off-the-beaten-path experiences rather than just relaxation during their vacations in Bali. This presents an excellent opportunity for Balinese farmers, who are investing more in agrotourism initiatives. In regions like Kintamani, Batukaru, and other agricultural areas of Bali, tourists can now visit coffee plantations, food forests, and farms to learn about the origins of their food and experience rural life in Bali firsthand.
Contrary to the impression portrayed on social media, the best coffee shops and cafes in Bali are not solely found along the southern coast in Canggu or Uluwatu. In reality, some of the most highly regarded coffee baristas and roasters can be found in Kintamani. Travelers from around the world make the pilgrimage to Kintamani, not only to marvel at the breathtaking views of Mount Batur but also to savor freshly roasted Kintamani coffee just meters away from its cultivation site.
A single street in central Kintamani boasts over a dozen of Bali’s finest coffee shops. Penelokan Main Road is lined with cafes that offer panoramic views of Mount Batur while serving freshly ground Kintamani coffee. One highly recommended coffee shop is Akasa Cafe, a three-story establishment with an in-house roastery. Visitors can even purchase bags of single-origin Kintamani coffee to bring home as a souvenir. For a picture-perfect and Instagrammable coffee shop experience, Paperhills on Penelokan Main Road is the ideal choice. Here, guests can relish the finest coffee and pastries that Kintamani has to offer while lounging on sunbeds or enjoying the infinity pool overlooking the sacred Mount Batur.
Numerous guided coffee plantation tours are available in Bali, often including coffee-tasting sessions and introductions to the island’s vast farmland areas. For those with limited time, it is possible to combine a day tour of Kintamani’s coffee shops and plantations with a sunrise morning trek to Mount Batur, creating a memorable and fulfilling experience.
