Indonesia Coffee Poised to Reclaim It's Position in Japan's Market

Japan’s coffee market is entering a new momentum, open to high-value, consistent, and sustainable products. As one of the world’s largest coffee producers, Indonesia holds a significant opportunity to reestablish itself as a key player in the global supply chain—especially in Japan, which shares a long-standing history with Indonesian coffee.

As part of its strategic initiative, the Indonesian Coffee Development Education Foundation (KAPPI) actively fosters cross-border dialogue to rebuild Indonesia’s coffee strength in the export market. One concrete step is the international forum titled “Global Coffee Market Insight 2025: From Indonesia to Japan, for the World” held at the Indonesia Pavilion, World Expo Osaka. This forum serves as a vital meeting point for global experts, industry players, and policymakers to reassess Indonesia’s position in the increasingly competitive and disrupted global coffee trade landscape.

In a volatile global coffee market, industry players face significant challenges. Judith Ganes, a leading coffee consultant from J. Ganes Consulting, candidly presented current market conditions, highlighting shifts in coffee price trends driven by global supply prospects. This fluctuating market dynamic demands that producing countries not only adapt but also innovate to maintain competitiveness internationally.

In response to these global challenges, Indonesia demonstrates promising adaptive strategies, as observed firsthand by Judith Ganes. “Our visits to coffee plantations in Indonesia, such as Sekincau in Lampung and Warnasari in West Java,” said Ganes, “revealed the extraordinary potential of highland coffee with unique characteristics, promising Robusta and Arabica varietal experiments, and strong community involvement in processing. Most exciting is the emergence of a highly promising young generation of coffee farmers.”

Ganes’ statement underscores how, amid global market pressures, Indonesia is building a solid foundation through quality improvement, varietal diversification, community-based sustainable farming practices, and most importantly, farmer regeneration to secure the future of the coffee industry. These efforts are key for Indonesian coffee not only to survive but to thrive in challenging market conditions.

This forum continues the momentum of a previous event also organized by KAPPI at the same venue, titled “Comeback with Confidence – Reviving the Glory of Indonesian Coffee in Japan.” That forum focused more on restoring trade relations with Japan following the tightening of Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) regulations, which had hindered Indonesian coffee exports. During that session, exporters and stakeholders from both Japan and Indonesia discussed practical solutions, ranging from farmer education to more transparent traceability systems.

Through these two forums, KAPPI reaffirms its approach centered on education, farmer regeneration, quality enhancement, and cross-stakeholder collaboration. This strategy is believed to address systemic challenges while reopening access to high-value export markets.

Masataka Nakano of Key Coffee Inc. stated that Japanese consumers are highly sensitive to flavor stability and quality. According to him, Indonesian coffee that maintains consistent quality will earn a special place in the Japanese market. His statement also reflects Key Coffee’s long-standing commitment to Indonesia through PT. Toarco Jaya, established in Toraja in 1976.

From a diplomatic perspective, Dody S. Sembodo Kusumonegoro, Minister Counsellor at the Indonesian Consulate General in Osaka, emphasized that coffee has become an important medium in Indonesia’s cultural diplomacy. “The Indonesia-Japan relationship in coffee is a long story that unites culture, taste, and values. Through this forum, we reopen strategic dialogue that will strengthen Indonesian coffee’s place in the hearts of the Japanese people,” he said.

Moelyono Soesilo, Head of the Specialty Coffee Division at AEKI, explained that challenges like MRL have triggered systemic improvements. Concrete steps taken include farmer training on safe pesticide use, strengthening laboratory testing, and implementing intercropping systems. All these efforts aim to ensure Indonesian coffee meets the requirements of export destination countries.

Roby Wibisono, official representative of KAPPI, added that the organization’s grand vision is to build a knowledgeable and empowered Indonesian coffee community. “We believe the future of Indonesian coffee depends on a new generation of farmers and coffee professionals growing together—from farm to café, from producer to consumer. Through research, training, and quality standard enhancement, we are not just shaping the future of Indonesian coffee—we are defining it for the world.”

With support from Japanese industry players such as UCC Japan and Key Coffee, and collaboration among government, associations, and local coffee communities, Indonesia is rebuilding a more resilient and sustainable export pathway. Not only to meet today’s challenges, but to ensure Indonesian coffee remains a top choice in the future.