TIMES SINGAPORE, MALANG – Taji Village in Jabung District, Malang Regency, is now recognized as a rapidly developing coffee education tourism destination. Located on the slopes of Mount Bromo in East Java, the area offers a complete experience, from coffee plantations to a warm cup of coffee with a distinct mountain flavor just like what Kopi Taji served on their menu.

Taji Village has been famous for producing Arabica typica coffee since the Dutch colonial era. However, this glory faded when many farmlands were converted into vegetable gardens.

It wasn't until 2010 that residents, along with the local Village Supervisory Non-Commissioned Officer (Babinsa), began a reforestation movement by replanting coffee. Taji's Babinsa, Heri Purnomo, served as the initial driving force behind this initiative, which the village's younger generation subsequently continued.

One of them, M. Syukron Mahmud, established the Kedai Kopi Taji (Taji Coffee Shop) in 2018. This shop evolved into a coffee education tourism center, where visitors can learn about the entire coffee process, from upstream cultivation to downstream processing.

The Distinct Flavor of Bromo Foothills Coffee

The panorama of the Mount Bromo Slopes that visitors can enjoy while at the Kedai Kopi Taji. (PHOTO: Yaqutatul Farida/AboutMalang.com)

Currently, Kopi Taji produces two main varieties: Arabica and Robusta. Local farmers cultivate both using organic fertilizer. The average annual production reaches 10 tons, processed with healthy post-harvest methods, resulting in a unique coffee flavor.

More than just a commodity, Kopi Taji is also a means of education. Tourists can participate in farm tours, learn to pick beans, and even try brewing their own choice of coffee.

"Here, I learned that coffee is not just a beverage but part of an economic and agricultural process that can improve farmers' welfare," said Muhammad Gugus Satriya, one of the visitors.

A New Tourism Magnet in Malang

Visitors pose in front of the "Kopi Taji Lereng Bromo" sign in Jabung, Malang, the popular educational tourism destination on the slopes of Mount Bromo. (PHOTO: Ardana Pramayoga/TIMES Indonesia)

Since the arrival of Kedai Kopi Taji, the village has transformed into a new tourism magnet in the Greater Malang area. The location is about an hour's drive from Malang City, offering mountain views and cool air upon arrival.

Beginning in 2020, Taji Village has regularly held coffee festivals and education programs. It has also achieved recognition, including the best flavor award in East Java in 2018. Kopi Taji products have even penetrated the international market, reaching Singapore.

The educational tourism package is priced at around IDR 75,000 per person, covering a farm tour and a cupping session. Kedai Kopi Taji itself is open daily from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Western Indonesian Time (WIB).

A Brighter Future

Currently, more than 50 farmers have returned to growing coffee, which not only increases residents' income but also preserves the forest's sustainability.

Kopi Taji is now projected to become an icon of East Java's coffee tourism. Its distribution has expanded to Jakarta and other major cities, even entering the menu lists of several national roasteries.

The regional government, along with the coffee community, continues to provide support for Taji Village to develop as a leading coffee tourism center.

With the combination of natural beauty and maintained coffee quality, Kopi Taji is not just reviving old glories but also forging a new path as a proud tourism destination for Greater Malang. (*)