Our Brand

Bumi translates to “Earth” in the Indonesian language, derived from the Sanskrit word Bhūmi, which carries the same meaning. Our brand is a tribute to the lush landscapes and natural beauty of Indonesia and British Columbia.

Our mission is to promote Indonesia’s heritage through specialty coffee. We work hand in hand with smallholder farmers, supporting their centuries-old farming traditions.

Bumi Coffee is roasted in small batches in Vancouver. Each bean is a celebration of the country we come from and the one we call home.

Who Are We?

We are three Indonesians who came to Canada in 2009 as students. While juggling full course loads and various jobs, some of us as baristas, we relied on cheap coffee as fuel.

As we settled into our careers, we wanted to share the taste of real Indonesian specialty coffee with British Columbians, but soon realized there was a gap in the market. There weren’t many Indonesian green coffee bean suppliers in British Columbia, so we unanimously decided: let's be the bridge!

Today, we work directly with farmers, practice fair trade, and get you to enjoy Indonesian coffee straight from the farm to your cup.

 Try our coffee now!

Colonial Roots to Cultural Renaissance

Coffee's journey in Indonesia began under the Dutch rule but today it's a story of resilience, craftmanship, and community. A cultural reclaim, redefined by the farmers who grow it.

Traditional social rituals like "ngopi" (drinking coffee together) remains central to Indonesian hospitality and community.
The Dutch East Indies

Coffee was introduced to Indonesia by the Dutch East India Company around 1696. Arabica varieties were first planted in Java, and cultivation later expanded across the archipelago. "Java Coffee" became highly regarded, driving its global demand.

Colonial-era coffee cultivation relied on a system known to farmers as tanam paksa, or enforced planting, which exploited local labor and contributed to regional famines.

After independence, the Indonesian coffee industry was reorganized, and today smallholders dominate production across the country.
Post Colonial Era

After Indonesia gained independence, the colonial plantations were nationalized. Over time, the role of small-scale farmers grew significantly, and today they account for over 90% of the country's coffee production. These farmers infuse their own unique and traditional processing methods, most notably the wet-hulling process or giling-basah in Sumatra.

Following a late 19th-century leaf rust epidemic that devastated Arabica crops, Robusta varieties became the dominant production. Arabica cultivation was revitalized in the 1990s as the world began recognizing a "specialty coffee" category, and Indonesia shifted focus toward producing high-quality beans. Some of the finest Arabica coffees come from Indonesia, though they remain relatively rare compared to Robusta.

At Bumi, we focus on bringing Indonesia’s finest Arabicas to Canada, making exceptional coffee more accessible.