Located in the Pacific Ring of Fire, Indonesia has enormous geothermal potential, reaching around 40% of the world's total geothermal reserves. Kamojang is one of the important milestones in Indonesia's geothermal history. This area has been explored since 1926, making it the oldest in the country. Almost a century later, Kamojang has not only consistently supplied clean energy, but has also made history as the birthplace of the world's first coffee innovation processed with geothermal steam.
Muhammad Ramdhan Reza Nurfadilah, or better known as Mang Deden, is a pioneer who presented this innovation. Since 2023, Deden together with local business actors have utilized the natural wealth of his hometown with support from PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy Tbk (PGE) (IDX: PGEO), which has been operating in Kamojang since 1983.
The Beginning of the Coffee Business
Before coming up with the geothermal coffee innovation, Deden had already run a coffee business since 2015, complete with a coffee shop that he managed himself. In addition to being a coffee entrepreneur, Deden is also active as the Head of Karang Taruna in Ibun District, Bandung Regency, West Java. His participation in the community makes Deden's coffee shop a frequent gathering place for residents to relax and share stories, including workers from the PGE Area Kamojang.
Since then, Deden admitted that he began to establish good relations with the employees of the PGE Area Kamojang. This closeness was established through casual chats that were often colored with discussions about coffee, from the production process to opportunities for developing local coffee.
It turned out that the conversation was not just a discourse, but became the beginning of something useful. One day, PGE expressed the desire to start a coffee coaching program. Deden responded to the good intention with enthusiasm. "At that time I considered the idea a challenge. I saw the potential of geothermal energy as an opportunity to be a solution to various problems faced by conventional coffee producers," he explained.
The Birth of Geothermal Coffee
Together with PGE, Deden conducted intensive research to find the fermentation technique that best suited the characteristics of geothermal energy used in the coffee processing process. "I conducted fermentation research for almost a year. From more than 20 types of processes that were tried, we finally found three methods that best suited the drying characteristics," he said.
After the research, Deden began production by processing Arabica beans from plants that grew in the Kamojang highlands, at an altitude of around 1,500 meters above sea level.
Deden then invited coffee entrepreneurs in Kamojang to build a more efficient business ecosystem through the use of Geothermal Dry House technology. This technology no longer relies on sunlight which is now increasingly difficult to predict due to global climate change. Instead, Geothermal Dry House utilizes the steam trap flow from PGE Kamojang geothermal steam which is channeled through pipes. This allows for stable and controlled room temperature regulation for a more efficient, hygienic, and quality coffee drying process.
In terms of business potential, this technology has the advantage of much shorter drying time efficiency, thus having a direct impact on operational cost savings. Its efficiency can even reach 300%, because the drying process takes place three times faster—meaning, with the same time and cost, production can increase up to three times.
"This also minimizes the risk of bacterial contamination from outside. That way, the bacteria that affect the process only come from fermentation before drying. In terms of taste, the end result is more fruity, the aroma is stronger, and the texture feels softer compared to conventionally processed coffee," he explained.
Now, Deden manages the Indonesia Geothermal Coffee Process (GCP) as Managing Director, where he collaborates with PGE to embrace coffee farmers in the Kamojang area. GCP is engaged in post-harvest coffee bean processing, from processing, drying, to peeling the skin, with the final result being green beans. Currently, GCP is a partner for more than 80 farmers who consistently supply their harvests every harvest season. In fact, GCP is recorded as absorbing up to 20 tons of coffee beans last season. In the future, Deden hopes to make GCP an integrated coffee processing business from upstream to downstream. He also aspires for GCP to be able to provide a wider social and economic impact on the surrounding community, not only limited to farmers or GCP partners.
Go International
In the first year of its launch, Deden said that there were parties from abroad who were interested in copying this system. "We feel it is important to patent it immediately. Rather than this concept being adopted by foreign parties first, it is better for us to develop it domestically. We want the Indonesian people, especially in coffee-producing areas close to geothermal sources, to be able to apply a similar concept first," Deden hoped.
This is what drives Deden's enthusiasm to introduce geothermal coffee as an original Indonesian innovation to the global level. The effort paid off, because GCP has succeeded in penetrating the international market by starting to export its products to Japan. This year, they are even targeting to expand exports to Europe.
Collaboration as the Key
As a pioneer of geothermal-based coffee in the world, Deden continues to be committed to maintaining and improving the quality of the coffee it produces. "When talking about business sustainability, of course it is not enough to just rely on the innovative side. In fact, product quality remains the main concern, so that buyers are not only interested at the beginning, but also continue to make repeat purchases because they are satisfied with the taste and consistency," he said.
For Deden, collaboration between parties is the key to providing broader benefits through geothermal coffee. He also expressed his appreciation to PGE Area Kamojang who has given great encouragement in the innovation process to bring his coffee to the global market.
"Since the beginning, my friends at PGE Kamojang have always believed in and encouraged me to continue trying new things. This collaboration is not only about producing the first geothermal coffee in the world, but also a door for us, local business actors, to develop, learn, and dream bigger. We increasingly feel the benefits of geothermal energy, not only as a source of electricity at home, but also as a door that opens up opportunities for a better life," he concluded.
Armed with a background as a graduate of Pharmacy Vocational School, Deden is currently exploring the opportunity to continue his undergraduate studies through a scholarship program from PGE. He plans to major in business management, because according to him, creating a new product is only the beginning of a business, but the ability to build a sustainable company is challenging.
