With BRI's Support, Batang Coffee Farmer Takes Her Blend to the World

A cup of coffee took Ika Yuanita on a journey she had never imagined. Driven by her concern for coffee farmers in Batang Regency, Central Java, she began establishing PT Kingkaf Makmur Sejahtera in 2017.

Today, the products Ika built from a simple process have reached consumers in various countries. Kingkaf’s journey began when Ika saw that local farmers’ harvests had great potential but were not being processed optimally.

She observed that limited understanding of post-harvest processes meant the coffee produced lacked sufficient added value. From there, Ika’s desire grew to accompany the farmers whilst bringing local coffee to a wider market.

However, building a market from scratch was no easy task. Without an established distribution network, Ika marketed her products directly from one prospective customer to another. She approached colleagues, acquaintances, and communities she judged would have an interest in her products.

“At first, we sold our coffee door to door through colleagues and acquaintances,” Ika recalled in a written statement on Thursday (30/7/2026).

Slowly, the market response began to grow. The business, initially run through direct sales, then developed into coffee shops and restaurants. Along the way, Kingkaf even had six outlets, an achievement marking its growth from a home-based product into an increasingly recognised culinary business.

Unfortunately, when the Covid-19 pandemic struck, the six outlets that had been the backbone of Kingkaf’s business came under pressure. Restrictions on public activities forced Ika to make a major decision: maintain the old model or find new ways to keep the business running.

Amidst that situation, Ika shifted Kingkaf’s focus from the coffee shop and restaurant business to selling packaged products through a network of resellers. That decision became a turning point for Kingkaf. Products that had previously depended on consumers visiting outlets began reaching a wider market, whilst also opening opportunities for people to earn income as sales partners.

As resellers grew and marketing reach expanded, Kingkaf’s needs became increasingly complex. Ika was no longer only thinking about how to produce good products, but also how to manage transactions, capital, digital marketing, and production capacity in a more organised way.

It was at this stage that BRI’s presence began to become part of Kingkaf’s growth journey. To support daily transactions, Ika used BRI’s transfer services and QRIS, which helped her receive customer payments quickly and conveniently. She also used BRI’s micro-financing facilities to maintain smooth operations and support business development needs.

“QRIS is very helpful because sales transactions can be processed quickly. For capital needs, BRI’s micro-financing process is also easy and fast, supporting our business operations,” she said.

However, the support Ika received did not stop at transaction and financing access. Through a recommendation from a fellow UMKM (micro, small and medium enterprise) player, she came to know Rumah BUMN BRI Semarang in 2020, a space for business owners to learn, consult, and expand their networks.

Ika took the initiative to contact the managers of Rumah BUMN BRI Semarang, introduce her products, and describe the challenges Kingkaf faced. From that meeting, she began attending various training programmes that helped her see her business from a different perspective.

“The BRI officers were very open and very friendly when I was interested in joining their mentoring house. There, I felt Rumah BUMN BRI Semarang played a huge role in supporting my business development. From the various lessons I gained, my mindset changed. Selling products, it turns out, is not enough just by offering quality, but you must also provide solutions for consumers’ needs,” Ika explained.

That shift in perspective subsequently influenced various aspects of how Kingkaf was managed. Through training in digitalisation, financial management, capital, product legality, as well as participation in bazaars and marketing activities, Ika began building her business on a stronger foundation.

For her, Rumah BUMN BRI Semarang also provided something equally important: an environment where UMKM players can grow together. “At Rumah BUMN BRI Semarang, we can support one another, exchange experiences, and open up collaboration opportunities. So it’s not just learning about business, but also growing together with other UMKM players,” she said.

The knowledge, service access, and networks she gained helped Kingkaf enter its next stage of growth. From a production base in Semarang involving 12 workers, Kingkaf now markets its products through Indonesia’s leading e-commerce platform.

Its market is no longer limited to the domestic sphere. Kingkaf’s products have reached the United States, Japan, Singapore, New Zealand, and Hong Kong. This achievement shows that products built on the potential of local farmers can find a place in international markets when developed through innovation and consistent business management.

In a separate statement, Director of Micro Business at BRI, Akhmad Purwakajaya, said the enormous potential of local products to grow and reach global markets must be supported comprehensively, from financial access and legal strengthening to digital technology adoption, network expansion, and market access.

“Through the Rumah BUMN empowerment programme, BRI provides a space for UMKM players to build capacity, exchange experiences, and open up collaboration opportunities. This ecosystem is expected to help UMKM build stronger business foundations so they can grow sustainably,” said Akhmad.

According to him, UMKM growth also brings broader economic benefits to surrounding communities. As business scale and production capacity increase, UMKM can absorb more workers whilst driving local economic activity.