SiNergi Research Team of PPNP and CERI Explores Coffee Downstreaming at PDM Coffee South Tapanuli

South Tapanuli, June 3, 2026 – The SiNergi Research Team of Payakumbuh State Agricultural Polytechnic (PPNP), led by Prof. Dr. Rince Alfia Fadri, S.ST., M.Biomed., accompanied by researchers from the Coffee Education Research Institute (CERI), conducted a field visit to the Berkah Bersama Darul Mursyid Cooperative, better known as PDM Coffee, located in Sidapda Simansor Village, Saipar Dolok Hole District, South Tapanuli Regency, North Sumatra.

The visit was part of research activities related to coffee traceability and downstreaming, aimed at building a transparent and verified coffee supply chain information system.

The head of the research team, Prof. Dr. Rince Alfia Fadri, S.ST., M.Biomed., stated that field observation is an important part of ensuring the validity of the collected data.

"This visit is one of the activities to observe and see firsthand how coffee is processed until it is ready for consumption. Although the research focus is on the downstream aspect, we need to understand the entire coffee processing process so that the data to be entered into the system can be ensured to be valid and has been directly verified by coffee business actors," she said.

PDM Coffee Built for Community Empowerment

The President Director of PDM Coffee, Drs. H. Yusri Lubis, welcomed the research team's visit. According to him, collaboration between the academic world and coffee business actors will provide great benefits in improving product quality and strengthening consumer trust.

In a discussion with PDM Coffee management, Yusri Lubis explained that PDM Coffee was officially established on October 6, 2018, with the spirit of providing benefits to the community through economic empowerment.

"PDM Coffee was built as a community empowerment institution that is expected to improve farmer welfare while producing quality coffee capable of competing in both domestic and international markets," he explained.

As a business unit under an educational institution, PDM Coffee also has a social mission to help support pesantren operations and provide support for educators entering retirement.

Mentoring Hundreds of Coffee Farmers

To date, PDM Coffee has mentored approximately 400 farmers, grouped into 54 farmer groups spread across two districts in South Tapanuli Regency.

In the partnership model implemented, PDM Coffee not only acts as a buyer of harvest yields but also as a mentor and provider of capital support. Farmers who do not yet have initial capital can receive assistance in the form of seeds, fertilizer, and other production facilities, which can then be paid in installments after farmers begin to obtain harvest yields.

Before joining, prospective assisted farmers also receive training and guidance to ensure they understand good and sustainable coffee cultivation practices.

Bank Indonesia Support Drives PDM Coffee Development

The coffee cherries processed by PDM Coffee come from assisted farmers who have received training, ensuring raw material quality standards are maintained. One of the main requirements applied is only accepting ripe red coffee cherries (red picking).

Since 2018, PDM Coffee has received support from Bank Indonesia in various forms, ranging from business management training, professional competency improvement, product branding strengthening, marketing, to facilitation of production machinery procurement and coffee drying houses.

Currently, PDM Coffee is able to produce specialty coffee with a capacity of approximately five tons per month. This production comes from PDM Coffee's core plantation of approximately 50 hectares and assisted farmer plantations covering an area of approximately 300 hectares.

Producing Premium to Specialty Coffee

PDM Coffee's coffee plantations are located at an altitude of approximately 1,000 to 1,200 meters above sea level (masl). Coffee grown at around 1,000 masl produces premium category coffee, while coffee grown at around 1,200 masl has the potential to produce higher quality specialty coffee.

To meet diverse market needs, PDM Coffee applies various post-harvest processing methods, including natural process, honey process, hydro honey process, and full washed process.

According to Yusri Lubis, the product quality is supported by competent human resources, ranging from Q-Graders, professional roasters, processors, to coffee cultivation consultants.

Additionally, PDM Coffee has obtained various important certifications, such as Home Industry Food Product (P-IRT), Halal Certification, Indonesian National Standard (SNI), and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP).

Achievements at National and International Levels

The commitment to quality has brought PDM Coffee various achievements, both at national and international levels. Some of the accomplishments include participating in the Singapore Coffee Auction in 2021, representing Indonesia at the London Coffee Festival in 2022, and earning the title of Best Coffee of North Sumatra at the North Sumatra Coffee Festival in 2019.

PDM Coffee also received the Adhikarya Pangan Nusantara North Sumatra award in 2020, became a finalist in the Indonesia Specialty Coffee Contest XII in 2020, a national finalist in the Specialty Coffee Cup of Excellence Contest in 2021, and earned the title of Best Coffee of South Tapanuli at the South Tapanuli Coffee Festival in 2022.

Through this visit, the SiNergi PPNP and CERI research team gained firsthand insight into the cultivation, processing, and downstreaming practices implemented by PDM Coffee. The data obtained will be an important part of developing a coffee traceability system that supports transparency, food safety, and added value of Indonesian coffee.