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Before the public came to know the name Kopi Bubuk Cap Banyuatis, printed on its distinctive yellow packaging, our story had already begun much earlier, through the generation that came before us.
At that time, no one was talking about brands, distribution networks, market segmentation, or business strategies. There was no factory, no operational vehicles, no product line, and certainly no yellow packaging that would one day become widely recognized.
There was only a piece of land, coffee plants, and the courage of one person determined to build a better life for his family.
While the commercial journey of Kopi Banyuatis began around 1960, the roots of our story had already been planted decades earlier—in 1928, through the hands of an artist.
Those roots would eventually grow through four generations, each living in a different era, facing different challenges, and giving new meaning to the legacy they inherited.
Yet they were united by one shared value:
What is inherited is not meant simply to be possessed. It must be protected, developed, and, in time, passed on to the next generation in better condition.
From the Wayang Stage to a Coffee Farm
Our family story was first recorded in 1928 through our great-grandfather, Ketut Sukeradja, better known as Jro Dalang Gelgel. He was a renowned dalang—a traditional Balinese puppeteer—of his time.
In the hands of a dalang, wayang puppets are more than figures moved behind a screen. Each character has a voice, a personality, and a journey of their own. Every story carries lessons about courage, loyalty, greed, devotion, and goodness.
Being a dalang required far more than the ability to speak. Jro Dalang Gelgel had to understand the stories, remember lengthy sequences, portray different characters, master the rhythm of the performance, and deliver messages that could resonate with the community.
Through his voice and the movement of his hands, characters that were originally silent seemed to come alive.
This skill took him to perform in many different places. Yet the income he earned from performing was not used solely to meet the family’s daily needs.
Jro Dalang Gelgel chose to set aside part of his hard-earned income to purchase a piece of land, which he eventually planted with coffee.
A Simple Decision That Became the Beginning of a Legacy
Perhaps at the time, no one could have imagined that this decision would become the beginning of a family business journey that would last for more than six decades.
Coffee may have been seen simply as one of the crops that could be planted, harvested, and used to support the family.
But history does not always begin with decisions that appear significant.
More often, history grows from simple decisions made with patience and persistence:
- Buying a piece of land.
- Planting a few coffee trees.
- Caring for them.
- Waiting for the plants to bear fruit.
- Then repeating the process, season after season.
The land purchased through the income from his performances became one of the first legacies that would eventually connect our family to coffee.
Jro Dalang Gelgel may not have founded a company called Kopi Banyuatis. He did not create the packaging, register the brand, or build a factory.
But he was the one who planted the roots of everything that would grow after him.
Writer: Radinna W