https://jateng.idntimes.com/life/inspiration/fariz-fardianto/kisah-...

"Makelar Tjerita: Margoredjo Koffie and The Struggle Against Europeans Hegemony Over Coffee Comodity"

http://yogifajri.blogspot.com/2018/09/margoredjo-koffie-and-struggl...

Coffee is the most valuable commodity for VOC commerce acitivity, even when the power shifted into Den Haag after the collapse of the VOC in 1799. This coffee commodity from Java is really a world famous, and the word Java sometimes associated with coffee.

The house of Tan Tiong Ie with the strong Indische style architecture in Kebonkarang, Semarang.

The people mostly recognize the house as
Rumah Kopi Wotgandul, as its not far from Wotgandul neigborhood.Semarang, the main port city in Central Java was a silent witness to how valuable the trading of coffee commodities in Java was.

In 1913, it was noted that the Dutch colonial government recorded 25,852 tons of export of coffee ore from the Dutch East Indies worth 16 million guilders or 437 million dollar in todays money.

Most of the traders were dominated by Europeans, however in the early 20th century a non-European trader emerged from Semarang, as well manage into the ranks of world-class coffee traders from the Dutch East Indies, present days Indonesia.

It was Tan Tiong Ie, born in Semarang in 1883 initially tried His luck as a salt trader.
Unfortunately, the business went into bankruptcy and forced Him to move to Bandung and open a bakery.

Tan Tiong Ie then returned to his hometown, Semarang and opened an ice plant factory, and finally in 1928,
He begin the business that would perpetuate His name, Margo-redjo Koffie.