Delicious! Spiced coffee from the cookbook Maluku (about the Moluccan islands)
What if your family had never passed down their recipes? Chef Carl Lemette-Polhaupessy and his partner Mas van Putten went in search of the forgotten flavors of Carl’s Moluccan roots. For two months, they traveled from Ambon to Seram, ate with locals, listened to stories and returned with an edible treasure map: Maluku – The Pure Cuisine of the Moluccan Islands. Since then, we’ve been hooked on their spiced coffee, kopi rempah. We’re sharing the recipe from this special book.
Unlike Indonesian cuisine, Moluccan dishes are often quick and easy to prepare. It’s a vibrant, pure cuisine that makes an indelible impression and is still completely unknown to many.
Pure flavors and quick dishes
In Maluku, you’ll dive into a fresh, quick and pure cuisine in which seafood, coconut, citrus and fresh herbs take center stage. Think: fish cooked in mandarin juice and coconut milk, tofu with a spiced coconut crust and a tomato salad with seaweed and lemon basil. No complicated frills, but an incredible amount of flavor. And that coffee? You’ll want to make it right away!
Savory coffee
This kopi rempah fits perfectly into the coffee trend of 2025, too. It’s no surprise that I’m such a fan, since my trip to Oman (bucket-list material!), where I drank Karak chai tea every day. I adapted this tea recipe for my daily coffee, and ever since, I can’t drink ordinary coffee anymore. Because coffee with spices… even better than regular coffee. Bet you’ll be converted too?
Moluccan spiced coffee: how to make it
- Make filter coffee using 400 milliliters of water and the Arabica coffee. Pour the coffee into a saucepan and add the remaining ingredients, except for the condensed milk. Heat over medium heat. Turn the heat to low and let the coffee sit for another 2 minutes.
- Pour the coffee through a sieve into a small jug, stir in the condensed milk and divide among four coffee cups.
- You can also let the coffee cool and serve it in glasses with plenty of ice, together with the condensed milk, for a deliciously spiced iced coffee.
Maluku: more than a cookbook
Maluku is not just a collection of recipes. The book is a personal journey through culture, family and food – complete with stories, encounters and QR codes that let you listen along to Moluccan ukuleles and disco vibes. Perfect for anyone who loves adventurous, honest and nourishing cooking.
About the authors
Carl Lemette-Polhaupessy and Mas van Putten together form De Vrouw met de Baard. They are a chef, writer, photographer and TV maker, and are known for their food trail workshops, TV programs and award-winning cookbooks such as Jiwa (Silver Cookbook 2023).
Title: Maluku – The Pure Cuisine of the Moluccan Islands
Author: Carl Lemette-Polhaupessy & Mas van Putten
Price: €34.99
Publisher: Nijgh Cuisine (published May 20, 2025)
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