Discover how Tanamera Coffee, born from a single dream in a small café, has grown into an internationally acclaimed brand. By fostering deep-rooted relationships with local farmers and embracing Indonesia’s rich cultural diversity, Tanamera Coffee delivers a unique sensory journey with every cup.
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by Rizky Adityo
Tanamera Coffee’s journey began with Founder and CEO Dini Criddle’s dream to make Indonesia famous for its specialty coffee. Founded in 2013, Tanamera Coffee opened its first small café and roastery in Thamrin City Office Park, Jakarta. This café was unique, featuring a coffee roaster inside and a set-up where baristas and roasters interacted directly with customers, explaining the intricacies of each coffee served. The mission has always been to bring out the very best that Indonesia has to offer. Like the red volcanic soil from which the name is derived, the archipelago boasts rich, fertile soils perfect for growing specialty coffee.
At the heart of Tanamera Coffee’s identity is an unwavering commitment to quality. The roastery meticulously sources its specialty coffee beans through direct collaboration with local farmers, ensuring the very best in specialty coffee. This approach promotes sustainable cultivation methods, providing for the health and financial wellbeing of the entire farming community. By fostering these direct relationships, Tanamera Coffee guarantees the finest beans while supporting the livelihoods of Indonesian farming communities.
Director and Master Roaster John Lee is at the forefront of these efforts, dedicating around four months each year to travel and source specialty-grade Arabica beans directly from farmers. These farmers often operate small plots in remote, hard-to-reach areas, but this meticulous sourcing process ensures that Tanamera Coffee obtains unique and distinctive flavours. The journey from crop to cup involves Tanamera Coffee being present at every step: planting, maintaining, cherry-picking, processing, roasting and brewing. This hands-on approach guarantees the highest quality and consistency for every batch of coffee.
Tanamera Coffee embraces Indonesia’s cultural diversity, spanning across an archipelago of 17,000 islands with a seven-hour flight from one side to the other. This vastness results in distinct coffees and cultural norms, reflected in Tanamera’s specialty single origins and blends. From the bold Sumatra Mandheling to the bright Java Preanger, each cup tells a unique story. Whether it’s a traditional pour-over or an espresso shot from a top-end Slayer machine, Tanamera delivers a sensory journey like no other.
Indonesian coffees are renowned for their wide variety of flavours, offering a rich and complex tasting experience. Tanamera’s coffees are no exception, showcasing full-bodied, intense, smooth, sweet and syrupy profiles. The tasting notes span chocolate, caramel, hazelnut, blackberry jam, tobacco, spicy, herbaceous and citrus flavours. This diverse range highlights the exciting and delicious potential of Indonesian coffee.
Tanamera Coffee’s dedication to quality and innovation has earned it international acclaim. Since its inception in 2013, Tanamera Coffee has participated in the Melbourne International Coffee Expo, winning the Champion International Roaster Award in 2015 and 2016, triumphing over 800 entries worldwide. To date, Tanamera’s coffee beans have won 51 awards. In 2018, the company began working closely with local farmers, providing education and improving coffee processing facilities. The following year, Tanamera Coffee shipped its first batch of Indonesian Arabica Specialty Green Beans to Moscow, Russia. In 2020, under the direction of Director and Singapore CEO, Ronald Liong, the first international outlet opened in Singapore. The growth continued in 2021 with new outlets, including a new headquarters and roastery in Seminyak, Bali. In 2022, Tanamera Coffee opened additional outlets in Singapore and the first outlet in Manado, Sulawesi. By 2023, Tanamera Coffee had become the official coffee partner for major events, continuing its expansion with new outlets in Surabaya, Singapore and Malaysia.
Beyond delivering exceptional coffee, Tanamera Coffee is deeply committed to environmental sustainability. The brand follows key principles of waste management: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. By implementing eco-friendly practices throughout its supply chain, from ethical sourcing to responsible packaging, Tanamera Coffee minimises its ecological footprint. Tanamera also collaborates with skincare specialist Sensatia Botanicals to create a body scrub using used coffee grounds and offers 100 percent home-compostable, Nespresso-compatible coffee capsules.
Fair trade and sustainability are the core values of Tanamera Coffee. The company believes that high-quality coffee starts with the environment and the farmers who cultivate it. The brand works closely with farmers to provide fair deals and better prices while also offering education on international specialty coffee standards. This collaborative approach improves both the quality and quantity of coffee produced and enhances the financial wellbeing of the farmers. Furthermore, Tanamera Coffee constantly researches and implements new farming practices to increase efficiency and sustainability, ensuring the long-term viability of coffee production for future generations.
Beyond its commitment to farmers, Tanamera Coffee also focuses on the welfare and development of its growing team. From front-of-house staff to the roastery team, the company values good communication, welfare and diversity. This inclusive approach fosters a positive work environment and contributes to the brand’s success.
Exquisite Taste Volume 44
Tanamera Coffee
IG: @tanameracoffee
