Yogyakarta's Merapi Coffee Festival Serves 5,000 Free Cups to Visitors

TEMPO.CO, Yogyakarta - The Merapi Coffee Festival is back for two days, from Friday to Saturday, June 13-14, 2025. The event, aimed at introducing the various varieties of coffee grown on the slopes of Mount Merapi, is centered in the parking area of Lapangan Denggung, Magelang-Yogyakarta Street, Sleman Regency, Yogyakarta.

Tina Hastani, the Head of the Cooperative, Small and Medium Enterprises Office of Sleman Regency, stated that the committee will provide 5,000 free cups of Merapi coffee to visitors during the event.

"Tourists and visitors who come to this festival over the weekend can try the special blend of Merapi coffee offered by 40 vendors," she said on Friday afternoon, June 13, 2025.

According to Tina, the venue of the festival was picked for its strategic location, drawing visitors to Yogyakarta every weekend.

"This festival also marks the opening of the first harvest of Merapi coffee, which will be held on June 15, 2025, on the slopes of Mount Merapi," Tina said.

Boosting Coffee Productivity

After the Covid-19 pandemic eases in 2022, Sri Sultan Hamengku Buwono X, the ruler of the Yogyakarta Palace and Yogyakarta governor, encouraged farmers to boost the productivity of coffee cultivation on the slopes of Mount Merapi.

This initiative follows the provision of a 50,000 coffee seedling grant from the Directorate General of Plantations of the Ministry of Agriculture to 20 farmer groups on the slopes of Merapi, including Cangkringan, Turi, and Pakem sub-districts in Sleman Regency.

According to him, coffee cultivation on the slopes of Merapi became a priority for several reasons, including preserving the natural ecosystems in Merapi and battling the rampant illegal mining activities in the area.

"Improving the income of the surrounding communities is better through planting coffee," he added, adding that he hopes the land in the area will no longer be excavated for mining.

The governor mentioned that farmers can innovate by planting other crops alongside coffee, since coffee plants usually take three years to bear fruit. "Farmers also need a monthly income, so coffee plants can be spaced apart to allow for the cultivation of other crops using an intercropping system, such as beans," Sultan explained.

The Distinctive Merapi Coffee

The Deputy Regent of Sleman, Danang Maharsa, stated that Sleman aims to introduce the distinctive Merapi coffee to a wider audience. Hence, tourists can enjoy the local cuisine and souvenirs while sightseeing.

"We hope that the coffee grown on the slopes of Mount Merapi will rise in popularity among coffee enthusiasts and give economic benefits to farmers and coffee business owners in Sleman," Danang said.

When it comes to coffee, Danang emphasized the presence of a good economic chain involving farmers, merchants, baristas, coffee shops, and consumers.

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