Kopi Si Garar Hutang
The tradition of coffee is not present merely in the family room, at a roadside coffee shop, but also to the coffee shop artisan. Is the Indonesian coffee has become masters in their own country?
Coffee is no longer the dominance of the parents or grandparents us. But it has to be owned by young people, including women! I still remember after the tsunami when it went into the coffee shop Father in Aceh, all eyes looked at me. Apparently, coffee was once so the domain of men alone. Well, last March I was given the opportunity by the MDGs (Millennium Development Goals) Indonesia presentation on Indonesian coffee at IMA Youth Forum MDGs, there actually a lot of young people, we, men and perempauan present coffee talk. Not from Jakarta, but also from other provinces in Indonesia.
Last May another of my stories about coffee. At that time, I come to the small village that is located approximately 3 miles from Sibisa, North Sumatra. Unlike the names of Sumatran coffee already melalang to various countries of the world, namely, coffee Sidikalang, Mandailaing coffee, until Aceh Gayo coffee. Name coffee this one sounds familiar diteling me. "Coffee is the garar debt, his name," said an old man who accompanied me to drink coffee in the shop that morning.
Previously I was able to info from the head of the village there is, that the villagers (approximately 800 people) before planting rice and onions for a living before planting coffee. "Later as coffee plants suitable to be planted here, rollicking us, this rice farmers cultivate coffee." More old man.
Interested in his narrative, I also ordered a cup of coffee at the tavern owner, with the message, "Put on the coffee debt garar yes host (Batak language for the mother)." "Well, no, we did not ever drink coffee that when the debt garar we grow in the garden too, "said a voice from the other side while brewing coffee schacet price a thousand more (without asking me). "How can it be so, host?" I asked.
The old man also connect my conversation with the shop owner, saying, "In this village we just planting the beans, not even grind coffee beans. Our great land, so if planted it does not need a big capital. Within three months already picking coffee beans, drying, peeled, and then sell, "he said. According Amang (Batak language for the father) who is almost 80 years old, hence the name of the coffee, the coffee garar debt (Batak language) which means, coffee debt payer!
"With this coffee plant we could pay off the debt, and new debt can again for 3 months already be money to pay it off, she said. Coffee is sold, due quarterly money already in hand, "he continued. "Indeed, the price is so cheap, but for us it was able to make a living," he continued sipping instant coffee with me. My forehead was wince, while ngebathin, "segitunya.
"Sad indeed the fate of our coffee farmers. I was reminded, another coffee story, from the mountains of Papua, in the village Kiwirok. Fate slightly better (maybe?). Still, exhaustion (until now) sells coffee products patent. When a company and a global network of coffee shops origin Seattle, Washington, United States, which is the largest in the world wants to buy artificial ground coffee Kiwirok. Availability of matter!
And, in June, before the fast came, accompanied by rain in June that started patter I got the news, in Blizt Grand Indonesia Indonesia launched a documentary film premiere. Indonesian Coffee Beans, title. Not had time to watch it, but overhears a coffee diverse and extensive information really. Too many stories. If this is, how ya how to read coffee Indonesia to avoid misinterpretation?
