TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Robusta coffee of Kepahiang District, Bengkulu Province, with a brand name Ngupei Kunakito has been named as Indonesia’s top 15 coffees in the AEKI AICE Coffee Contest 2016 held by Association of Indonesian Coffee Exporters and Producers (AEKI) and Indonesian Coffee and Cocoa Research Institute (PPKKI).
“Robusta coffee of Kepahiang, Bengkulu, has been selected into the top 15 to futher compete for top three spot of Indonesia’s best coffee,” said Bengkulu coffee enthusiast Heri Supandi on Tuesday.
According to Heri, Kepahiang robusta coffee has only entered the competition this year. He is proud that the coffee can compete with the best.
He explained that AEKI AICE Coffee Contest 2016 is attended by juries from 12 countries. The main event will be held during the National Coffee Day in Takengon, Aceh, in October. The event is participated by coffee enthusiasts hail from Java, South Sumatra, Lampung and Aceh.
Heri revealed that participation in the prestigious competition is a breakthrough to introduce Bengkulu coffee at international level. “It’s an effort to open up more opportunities to export Bengkulu coffee and to make it the region’s mainstay product,” Heri said.
Kunakito coffee, he went on, is available in various flavors, namely Original Robusta, Traditional Traditional Robusta, Super Robusta, Robusta Semang, dan arabica.
PHESI ESTER JULIKAWATI