Beneath the thin mist that blankets the foothills of Mount Sinabung lives a woman with sharp, determined features and a warm, welcoming smile. Her name is Njoreken Bana Bru Tarigan. To the community in Tiga Nderket District, Karo Regency, she is more than just a farmer; she is a guardian of tradition, pinning her hopes on every inch of volcanic soil she tends.
This is a story of dedication, aroma, and the resilient spirit of Njoreken in her Arabica coffee plantation.
A Legacy of the Karo Highlands: The Journey of Njoreken Bana Bru Tarigan
At five in the morning, while the air in Tiga Nderket is still bone-chilling, Njoreken is already lacing up her rubber boots. Slung over her shoulder is the bamboo basket that has been her constant companion for years. Her destination is a plantation spanning approximately 6,100 square meters, situated at the ideal altitude for Arabica coffee to thrive.
There, neatly lined rows of Ateng coffee (Aceh Tengah) plants stand tall—a superior variety that has perfectly adapted to the cool, humid climate of the Karo highlands.
Three Years of Blooming Dedication
Njoreken’s coffee plants are currently entering their golden age: 3 years old. This is the stage where the trees begin to show their peak productivity. Njoreken cares for every branch as if she were raising her own children. She understands that Ateng coffee requires extra attention, from pruning branches to ensure even sunlight to applying organic fertilizer to maintain the nutrient-rich volcanic soil.
“Coffee is honest. What we give to the soil is exactly what we will taste in the cup,” Njoreken says, her nimble fingers checking the ripeness of the coffee cherries.
Understanding the Profile: Tanah Karo Arabica Coffee
What makes the coffee from Njoreken’s field so special? The geography of Karo Regency provides a unique flavor profile rarely found elsewhere. The technical specifications of the coffee produced from her farm are as follows:
| Parameter | Specification |
| Variety | Arabica (Ateng/Catimor) |
| Altitude | 1,100 – 1,400 MASL |
| Flavor Profile (Notes) | Spicy, Earthy, with a Thick Body |
| Acidity | Medium to High (Citrusy) |
| Aroma | Strong Chocolate and Spice Fragrance |
| Texture | Smooth (Clean finish) |
The primary strength of Karo coffee lies in its body. When brewed, the aroma fills the room with an exotic spicy scent—a true reflection of the fertile volcanic earth of Tiga Nderket.
Reality Behind the Aroma: Price Instability and Middlemen
However, behind the beauty of the green fields, Njoreken faces a harsh reality common among local farmers. Her greatest challenge is market price instability.
As an independent farmer, Njoreken often finds herself in a weak bargaining position. When the harvest season arrives, coffee prices frequently plummet. Without direct access to export markets or large-scale processors, Njoreken is forced to sell her hard-earned harvest to middlemen (tengkulak).
This system is a double-edged sword:
- The Practical Side: Middlemen come directly to the field, providing quick cash without complicated procedures.
- The Bitter Side: Prices are set unilaterally by the middlemen. Often, the price Njoreken receives is far below the fair market value, especially considering the premium quality of the Arabica Ateng she produces.
Hope for the Future
For Njoreken Bana Bru Tarigan, coffee farming is not just an economic matter; it is a matter of pride as a Karo person. She dreams that one day, her coffee will not just end up in the hands of middlemen who mix different qualities together, but will be enjoyed by coffee lovers worldwide under the name “Tiga Nderket Coffee.”
Every coffee bean picked by Njoreken carries the hope of providing a better education for her children. She believes that her honesty in tending the land will bear sweet fruit—as sweet as the aroma of Arabica coffee wafting from a roaster.
Why Support Njoreken’s Coffee?
Buying coffee from farmers like Njoreken is a form of direct support for local agricultural sustainability. You aren’t just getting caffeine; you are getting:
- Traceability: Clear knowledge of the farmer and the origin of the beans.
- Guaranteed Quality: Hand-picked selection, ensuring only the ripest red cherries are processed.
- Economic Impact: Helping small-scale farmers like Njoreken gradually break free from their dependence on middlemen.
Coffee from the hands of Njoreken Bana Bru Tarigan in Tiga Nderket is a blend of the natural richness of Tanah Karo and the resilience of a woman farmer. Behind every sip of Arabica Ateng you enjoy, there is the sweat and prayer of a mother who continues to strive on the slopes of the North Sumatran mountains.
Respect every bean, for within it lies a story of life that continues to grow.