The Indonesian Consulate General In Houston Shows Archipelago Coffee At SCE 2025, Indonesian Consul General: Part Of Cultural Identity

JAKARTA - Indonesian coffee is part of the nation's cultural identity that should be introduced and proud in the international world, said the Indonesian Consul General in Houston, Ourina Ritonga.

He conveyed this when he officially opened the Indonesian pavilion at the Specialty Coffee Expo (SCE) 2025 which took place on April 25, 2025 at the George R. Brown Convention Center, Houston, Texas, United States, Friday, April 25.

In this SCE event, the Indonesian Pavilion displays the rich taste and aroma of coffee from various regions in the archipelago, such as West Java, Sumatra, West Sumatra, Toraja, Central Java and Gayo Aceh.

Consul General Ourina said Indonesia's participation in SCE was not only to bring Indonesian coffee products to the US, but also to promote the tradition and spirit of Indonesian coffee farmers who continued to innovate and maintain quality.

"Indonesia coffee is not just an export commodity, but also part of our cultural identity that deserves to be introduced and proud on the global stage," said Consul General Ourina, in a written statement from the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Saturday, April 26.

Furthermore, Consul General Ourina said, the privilege of Indonesian coffee is not only located in the amount of production, but also lies in the "mental" contained in it.

"More than 90 percent of our coffee is grown by small farmers using traditional, often organic methods, even before the method became a global trend," he explained.

Meanwhile, the Indonesian Trade Attache in Washington DC Ranitya Kusumadewi said that the rapid growth of the coffee industry in the US and global trade challenges require Indonesia to be more aggressive in promoting branding as a producer of various types of specialties that have a taste and quality.

Indonesia's participation in SCE 2025 is also a form of representation of solid cooperation between government, banking, BUMN, business actors and coffee associations.

"In addition to close collaboration between various parties, preparations for Indonesia's participation in the 2025 SCE also prioritize the quality of coffee and other related products, by highlighting tracing and sustainability aspects in responding to US market demand and global challenges," Ranitya explained.

In addition to displaying coffee products, the Indonesian Pavilion also held a Coffee Cita Rasa Test (cupping) session that attracted the attention of global coffee buyers and professionals.

The implementation of the Shopping session encourages promising partnership opportunities and trade transactions for Indonesian coffee business actors.

It is known that Indonesia's participation in this year's SCE is the result of a close collaboration between the Washington DC Indonesian Embassy Trading Attache and the Washington DC Agricultural Attache, the Indonesian Consulate General in Houston, SCAI, BI, Pertamina, BNI, and BRI.

SCE is the largest meeting of global specialty coffee industry players, which this year was attended by more than 649 participants from various countries and from various lines of coffee industry players, including farmers, roasters, exporters, importers, baristas, researchers and retail businesses. SCE is enlivened by more than 17,000 visitors every year.

A total of 16 participants from Indonesia took part, namely Indonesia House of Beans, Asa Coffee, Solok Radjo, Cikopi Mang Eko, Caldera Coffee, Alko Sumatra Kopi, Kopi Geulis, Kandora Coffee, Ayo Community, Q.co, Dal Coffee Trading, PT. Sulotco Jaya Abadi, Javanese Coffee, PT. Hauma Agro Antarnusa, as well as sugar products from Mandala Mitra, Semedo Manise and Classic Beans.

Apart from Indonesia, SCE 2025 was also attended by 85 countries, including world coffee producers such as Peru, Ecuador, Brazil, Costa Rica, Honduras, Colombia, and Thailand, which have advantages in their local coffee commodities.

Indonesia's participation in the 2025 SCE is a form of ongoing effort to expand access to the Indonesian coffee market in the US.

In addition, participating in SCE also has great potential to strengthen Indonesia's position as one of the main players in the world specialty coffee industry.