Pemulan Bali Coffee Plantation(FREE TASTING)

Lush Stopover on the Kintamani Road

Set along Jl. Raya Kintamani No.16 in Manukaya, Pemulan Bali Coffee Plantation (often branded as Pemulan Bali Farm Cooking School & Coffee Plantation) sits on the busy route between Ubud, Tirta Empul and Kintamani. Many visitors land here via drivers or parking attendants who “recommend” a free coffee stop on the way to or from Mt Batur or nearby temples.

Walk in and you’re usually greeted by a guide, not a reception desk. Entry is free, the air is humid and green, and paths wind between coffee shrubs, vanilla, turmeric, ginger and pineapple plants rather than endless commercial rows of coffee.

From Cherry to Cup: Short, Friendly Tours

Guides lead compact tours that run roughly 30–45 minutes, according to several visitors. They walk you past a handful of coffee plants and spices, explain how beans are harvested, dried and roasted, and often demonstrate traditional roasting over a fire.

The famous Luwak coffee process is always part of the spiel. Guests are shown civet cats (sometimes caged, sometimes described as roaming), and staff talk through how coffee cherries are eaten, excreted and then cleaned. Some guests find this fascinating and respectful; others are uncomfortable with animals in cages.

The Hook: 12–15 Drinks, “Free Tasting”

At the end of the garden walk, everyone is seated on a terrace overlooking the jungle for the real draw: a free tasting board. Visitors commonly mention 12–15 small cups—often 7 coffees and 7 teas, or 14 different flavored drinks such as mangosteen, rosella, ginger and avocado coffee.

Tastings are free; cassava or other chips sometimes appear on the side. Luwak coffee is the exception: most reviews report 80k IDR or about 5 dollars per cup, with some comparing the taste to strong Turkish coffee. Many reviewers loved the views, the calm setting and the chance to linger—others felt rushed to finish so they could be steered into the shop.

Where the Money Is: The Shop and Pricing Complaints

Almost every visit ends in the boutique. Here the experience divides opinions sharply. On the mild end, guests talk about “high” or “expensive” prices—figures like 350k IDR for 50gr of coffee beans, 140k IDR for 100gr of arabica, 120k IDR for tea, or lemongrass tea around 12eur.

More critical reviews from Google and TripAdvisor describe the model as a “tourist trap” or “smart marketing”: free tour and tasting, then strong social pressure (or at least gentle expectation) to buy. Several note that staff stay close while you browse, or “follow you till you order or buy stuff,” though other visitors insist there was “no pressure to buy at all.”

Serious Allegations: Quality, Powder and ‘Scam’ Reviews

A recurring red flag in recent online feedback concerns product quality. Multiple visitors report that teas and coffees bought here don’t match what was served in the tasting. Instead of loose tea or ground coffee, they describe opening bags at home to find “sugary powder”, “chemically colored, detergent looking powder”, or instant coffee.

Some say they spent over 1M IDR or more than $100 US on gifts, only to feel “misled” or “scammed” when they brewed them later. A few reviews explicitly warn that the shop’s goods are fake or low quality, that what you taste on site is different from what you take home, and in at least one case a guest claims they were charged both by card and in cash.

Other buyers, however, seem satisfied, praising mangosteen tea, ginger tea, orange chocolate or 200gr of Luwak coffee at 650k as “very good,” and calling the place “definitely better than other popular places.”

Guides, Atmosphere and Ethics

Despite the controversy around the shop, staff themselves draw plenty of praise. Names like Ayuu, Amri, Lina, Iluh, Dek Nok, Miss Jero and Ningsia appear again and again in online reviews, described as “kind”, “sweet”, “very helpful”, “knowledgeable” and “not pushy.” Several visitors single out a strong older woman roasting coffee as a favorite photo moment.

The setting scores highly: a “beautiful spot in the jungle”, “very cozy atmosphere”, “relaxing in the forest”, sometimes with extras like a huge swinging chair or bed for pictures. For many budget-conscious travelers, the combination of free entry, free 12–15 drink tasting, and a short educational stroll feels like excellent value—especially if they skip the shopping.

On the ethical side, reactions to the civets are mixed. Some reviewers appreciate learning about Luwak coffee and describe animals roaming “freely”; others dislike seeing caged luwaks and would prefer photos instead, reflecting wider discomfort around coffee-from-civet tourism.

Digital Presence and Market Positioning

Pemulan’s Google Maps listing leans heavily into “FREE TASTING,” which aligns with the reality of no entry fee and complimentary boards of tea and coffee. That wording also works as local SEO, catching tourists and private drivers scanning maps for low-cost things to do between temples and Mt Batur.

Instagram and other platforms are packed with user-generated shots of colorful tasting boards, jungle terraces and the occasional animal. Photos of the shop itself or of product packaging appear less often than those of the experience—suggesting that the visit, not the retail, is the core draw for most guests.

Who Will Enjoy Pemulan – and How to Approach It

Pemulan Bali Coffee Plantation suits travelers who want a short, low-effort stop to learn the basics of Balinese coffee and spices, sip 12–15 free samples in a jungle setting, and snap a few photos with friendly guides. Those sensitive to animal welfare or wary of overpriced tourist retail should enjoy the tour and tasting, tip their guide if they wish, and think carefully before buying anything from the shop.