Moelyono Soesilo (Ming Djwan), a coffee expert made a joke that someday he would charge anyone who needed to get more information about coffee. The joke was made after considering many inquiries, including interview requests from both local and foreign journalists. “Some university students who were conducting research about agriculture, especially on coffee plantation came here. They needed to collect data and information for their scripts. Journalists often call me for interview too. Sometimes, I am too busy to receive them one by one. I thought, I needed to charge them later for all those inquiries,”Moelyono exclaimed laughingly during an interview in his office at the Industrial Estate Terboyo located in Semarang, Central Java.
Mounting inquiries about coffee information, on the other are excellent news for him. It has made him keener and more enthusiastic to develop further the Indonesian national coffee industry. He even became involved in producing some movies about coffee. One of them is a sequel called ‘Filosofi Kopi’ (Coffee Philosophy). “I want to help and educate the public about coffee, especially to Chico and Rio (the actors) and actresses for the first movie sequel. All is in the knowledge and understanding starting from good farming, processing, QC (quality control) to the standard of services,” explained Moelyono who happens to be the co producer of this movie.
Jody (played by Rio Dewanto), and his best friend Ben (played by Chicco Jerikho) and other Filosofi Kopi baristas celebrate the discovery of their best house blend, called Ben’s Perfecto. Their friendship is a combination of coffee enthusiasm and obsession, while its drama turns to be complications based on scenario. The flavor of coffee draws it an atmospheric air to the fillm adapted from Dewi Lestari’s short story of the same title. “A film producer from Malaysia was interested to buy the royalty of the film. We are positive but need to discuss further with all parties especially the director.”
Moelyono is involved in another movie, but for electronics media. The movie entitled ‘Viva Barista’ was broadcasted by one of the local Tv. Stations. He is positive that the movie is in raising an awareness and socializing coffee to the public. The first sequel of Viva Barista movie proved too have increased the prosperity of Indonesian coffee farmers seeing how the narrative side aided to give a much bigger pictures of coffee farmers. “The movie affects consumers’ appreciation towards farmers, coffee industries, and all stakeholders. We don’t expect quick result, but consumers have shown a bigger interest to go to coffee shops and are are willing to pay for a good cup of brewed coffee.”
Moelyono, who also chairs the Association of Indonesian Coffee Exporters and Industries (AEKI) of Central Java has also organized field trips for coffee consumers in Indonesia. The participants have improve tremendously their knowledge about coffee, including coffee picking, roasting, etc. “We limit the numbers of participants during field trip due to a big response. We believe a smaller closer group is much more effective in raising their awareness and understanding of what drinking and savoring a cup of good coffee is all about. The event together with the movie will boost Indonesian national coffee industry simultaneously.”( Setiawan Liu / IM )
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