Why Is Coffee Called Java? - HomeGrounds

WHY IS COFFEE CALLED JAVA? A FASCINATING LOOK AT COFFEE HISTORY

Have you ever wondered why coffee is called Java? The answer dates back to the 17th century!

Coffee drinkers have dozens of names for coffee, each with a unique backstory. Recently, I was inspired to explore the origins of referring to coffee as Java. As it turns out, it’s just another part of coffee’s long and compelling history.

Keep reading to learn all about it, and you’ll be able to impress your friends next time you’re out at the local dinner grabbing a morning cup of java.

A Quick History Lesson

Coffee’s early history begins in Ethiopia, a nation blessed with the climate and geography for coffee plants to thrive in the wild. As legend has it, a local goat herder noticed his flocks were extra energetic after feeding on the fruits of certain plants. Those plants were coffee, and humans quickly followed the goats’ lead.

For more details on coffee’s exciting history, check out this video:

Recognizing the value of the crop, traders brought coffee plants from Ethiopia to Yemen, where they were grown commercially for the first time. The coffee industry was so profitable that the Arabians kept it closely guarded. Stealing coffee trees was punishable by death (1)!

Nevertheless, in the late 17th century, wily merchants from the Dutch East India Company managed to smuggle some coffee seedlings to Indonesia.

So, Why Do We Call Coffee Java?

The Dutch established coffee plantations on several Indonesian islands, but as the main island of the archipelago, Java handled most of the exports. As a result, when coffee arrived in Europe, it bore the label “Java.” Over time, Java ceased to mean “coffee from Java” and became a generic term for the coffee itself.

Do We Still Have Java Java?

Coffee is still grown on the island of Java. However, it is no longer the global coffee hotspot it once was. In the 19th century, many Arabica coffee crops on the island were wiped out by coffee leaf rust. To compensate, the Dutch planted more Liberica and Robusta coffee plants, which are resistant to disease but are of lower quality.

What Is Special About Java Coffee?

In Java, five estates are still growing premium Arabica beans: Blawan, Jampit, Pancoer, Kayumas, and Tugosari.

Some of them practice what is known as wet-hulling – or, locally, as giling basah. In this process, green coffee beans are aged in the region’s humid air for up to three years. The beans swell up and develop new flavor characteristics.

Wet-hulled beans from Java have a sweet flavor with a heavy body and minimal acidity.

While you can still get coffee from Java Island, these days, Indonesia’s best-known single origin coffees are Sumatran coffee and Sulawesi coffee.

What is Mocha Java?

Mocha Java (also known as Mocca Java or Moka Java) is a coffee blend. In fact, it is the oldest coffee blend – not to be confused with the chocolatey mocha coffee drink.

In its early history, coffee was grown mainly in Yemen and exported through the Yemeni port of Mocha. Yemeni coffee was similar to the wild coffees of Ethiopia, sweet and fruity. Once the Dutch brought coffee to the more humid climate of Indonesia, it took on different characteristics, with a creamier body and earthier flavor.

People soon discovered that blending the coffees of Java and Mocha yielded a beautifully balanced brew (2).

One thing’s for sure is the blend represented a mixture of coffees from two different cultures and economic systems derived through colonial rule.

These days, the Mocha Java blend still exists, but it’s more a tribute to the original flavors than a true designation of origin. It’s often a blend of fruity Ethiopian coffee and earthy beans from Sumatra.

Final Thoughts

There are many names for a cup of coffee, which is a testament to its long history and global reach. Java is one of the oldest terms, and it refers to the island in Indonesia that once served as a major exporter of coffee. While Java originally referred to coffee from Java, over time, the name Java became synonymous with coffee, and amazingly, we still use it today!

FAQs

Why is coffee called joe?

It is not entirely clear why coffee is called a cup of joe. It might be because it is the drink of an “average Joe,” it might be a joke originating with sailors in WWI, or it might just be a marketing tactic.

What is a mocha?

Confusingly, the mocha drink commonly found in coffee shops no longer bears any relation to the old coffee exporting port of Mocha in Yemen. A mocha is essentially a chocolate latte, a drink that combines chocolate, espresso, and steamed milk.

Where do the best coffee beans come from?

The best beans come from the farmers trying to grow and cultivate specialty coffee beans, but some origins make this easier than others. Some of the world’s best growing regions include East Africa, Central and South America, Hawaii, Indonesia, and Jamaica’s Blue Mountains.

References

1. Gilbert, D. (2017, September 20). The History of Mocha Coffee & Yemeni Coffee Culture. Retrieved from https://perfectdailygrind.com/2017/09/the-history-of-mocha-coffee-yemeni-coffee-culture/
2. Wood, D. (2024, March 13). Moka Java: Re-Constructing the World’s Oldest Blend. Retrieved from https://library.sweetmarias.com/moka-java-constructing-the-worlds-oldest-blend/