Zahra Salsabila
Sep 30, 2026
What happens when coffee drinkers step outside the familiar world of Arabica and Robusta? For Mindbrewing 2026, the answer came through two less commonly encountered varieties, Liberica and Excelsa, explored through cupping sessions, bar takeovers, and collaborations between coffee professionals from Bandung and Yogyakarta.
Organised by Inspira Roasters, Mindbrewing returned for its third edition this September with the theme “Two Weekends of Coffee, Curiosity & Connection.” The annual event took place across Bandung on September 18–19 and Yogyakarta on September 25–26, bringing together coffee enthusiasts, professionals, and communities for a closer look at coffees that are not always found on everyday café menus.
Exploring Liberica and Excelsa Through a Public Cupping
The Bandung programme began on Friday, September 18 at Monomono with a Public Coffee Cupping, where participants were invited to explore the sensory characteristics of six coffees, from aroma and acidity to flavour complexity.
The line-up included Liberica Boyolali Natural Mossto Process, Excelsa Wonosalam Natural Anaerob Process, Arabica Sindoro Mossto Honey JB Coffee, Liberica Palasari, Excelsa Mount Halu, and Special Inspira Blend.
Rather than simply tasting the coffees, the session offered a closer look at how different varieties and processing methods can shape what ends up in the cup. With Liberica and Excelsa taking centre stage, it was also an opportunity to discover flavours beyond the Arabica profiles that many coffee drinkers are more familiar with.
Behind the Bar with Rifqi Maulana
The exploration continued that afternoon with a Bar Takeover by Rifqi Maulana, runner-up of the 2026 UK Roasting Championship. For the session, Rifqi served three single-origin coffees with experimental fermentation processes: Liberica Boyolali, Excelsa Wonosalam, and Arabica Sindoro.
One of the coffees that stood out was the Liberica Boyolali, which has already made its way into the international brewing scene.
“One of the coffees that was particularly special for us was the Liberica Boyolali. It won the 2026 UK Brewers Cup and was featured by a brewer named Andrew Wong, who blended it with Panama Geisha. So, bringing this coffee to Bandung and allowing people here to taste it was a really special moment for us.” Rifqi shared.
The session also offered Bandung coffee drinkers an early taste of the Excelsa Wonosalam that Rifqi and his team had sourced. The beans were scheduled to be exported to the UK the following month, making the Mindbrewing session one of the first opportunities for local audiences to experience the coffee before it travelled overseas.
For Rifqi, bringing coffees like these to a wider audience is part of making coffee exploration more accessible, giving people the chance to discover varieties and beans they may not normally come across.
A Bandung–Yogyakarta Coffee Collaboration
Mindbrewing continued on Saturday, September 19 with another Bar Takeover, this time led by Imam Alfaqih, a barista from Inspira Roasters Yogyakarta.
The session introduced two special blends created across the two cities. The Bandung Special Blend combines Excelsa Wonosalam, Arabica Mount Halu, and Arabica Palasari, while the Jogja Special Blend brings together Liberica Boyolali and Arabica Kerinci.
Beyond introducing new flavour combinations, the blends reflected the collaborative spirit behind this year's Mindbrewing, connecting coffees, baristas, and ideas from Bandung and Yogyakarta.
Try the Mindbrewing Special Blends
The coffee exploration doesn't end with the event. Inspira Bandung Special Blend and Inspira Jogja Special Blend are now available as limited-edition drinks at Inspira Roasters outlets at The Gaia Hotel Bandung and GAIA Cosmo Hotel Yogyakarta.
Both blends are available from September 18 through October 31, 2026, giving coffee enthusiasts more time to try the coffees introduced during Mindbrewing 2026 and perhaps discover a new favourite beyond the usual Arabica and Robusta.
