Saving the Coffee Ecosystem

Kompas/Agus Susanto

Workers are sorting coffee in Tana Toraja, South Sulawesi, on Friday (19/1/2018).

Coffee enthusiasts are worried about the social restrictions currently in place. Coffee farmers who used to be passionate about planting their coffee now have nothing to gain. Their sales have gone down.

The global and domestic coffee business has contracted by 50 to 90 percent this year. This has led to oversupply and stockpiling at warehouses across the region, even though the coffee production this year decreased by 35 percent compared to last year. The coffee price has nosedived, and the capacity utilization of the coffee processing business has fallen by around 35 percent. The export market is also affected, as there has been a drastic fall in demand.

On the other hand, rent-seekers still see an opportunity for importing coffee, with little concern for social problems. Coffee imports multiplied from 18,000 tons in 2011 to 78,800 tons in 2018, but they plunged to just 11,218 tons in the first half of this year as the COVID-19 crisis disrupted the market.

Also read: The Story of Meeka, Dogiyai Coffee, and the Story of Indonesian Coffee

The situation is challenging for those in the coffee business. Campaigns have been run to save farmers, industries and baristas, such as Barista Asuh, Belift Dogiyai and #SatuDalamKopi. The industry has also cut its expenses and returned to its original business model of selling coffee beans and ground coffee. The government has offered a warehouse receipt scheme, and efforts to sell through digital channels are also being intensified.

KOMPAS/BUDI SUWARNA

Various types of coffee from various regions of Indonesia are on display at a coffee shop in Ciputat, Tangerang, Banten, on Thursday (3/9/2020).

Aside from those steps, the coffee ecosystem still needs to take extra measures to survive this hardship. A spirit of togetherness is evident among them. However, from various discussions, it is known that this spirit usually only appears in the early stage of a crisis.

That is why a new form of solidarity involving consumers, industries and farmers needs to be sparked as the pandemic has been going on for seven months. This movement would need a new vision, shape and methods.

Learning from various business cases from Indonesia and abroad, innovation is key to help the coffee ecosystem survive the pandemic. Innovation can be done in multiple ways, such as strengthening digital channels, changing product sizes, making derivative products and transforming sales methods. All of these depend on the ability to understand changes in consumer behavior.

The coffee shop or café phenomenon has sparked changes throughout some countries\' social history, both as a creative economy movement and social movement.

The coffee ecosystem from Sabang to Merauke is a new reality that can still bring forth creativity in facing the pandemic. The coffee shop or café phenomenon has sparked changes throughout some countries\' social history, both as a creative economy movement and social movement.

KOMPAS/BUDI SUWARNA

Setya Yudha alias Ulil is examining the profile of coffee at the Joyo99 coffee shop, Ciputat, South Tangerang, Banten, Thursday (3/9/2020).

We hope that coffee shops or cafés will no longer be there only for the sake of business, but also to become a haven for intellectual and creative networks. Through this, it is hoped that coffee shops and cafés would not only save Indonesian coffee but also create a new civilization in this country.