‘Kopi Tubruk’, the black coffee that glued Indonesians together

As I have mentioned in this post, the strong sense of equality and togetherness along with the tradition are what makes Indonesian people get together just to hang out and chit chat.
It is also the same reason to why Indonesian people gather at a local coffee shop.

Coffee drinkers are greater in numbers than tea drinkers in Indonesia. All around the country, the coffee market has been ruled by Starbucks, Coffee Bean, Bengawan Solo, and many other brands. They taste good, but something is different about those brands which cannot be felt unless you come to a local coffee shop.

Yes, it is all about getting together and comfortable with your friends. Something you cannot do in a classy typical Starbucks place unless you want to be seen as a villager who does not know how to behave in a city.

‘Kopi Tubruk‘ (clashing coffee or colliding coffee) is the most favorite coffee to accompany them. The brewing is simple and fast. The price is also cheap, which is only about IDR 3.000 ( US $ 0,3 ) in a local coffee shop. They are made by pouring boiling water into a cup filled with coarsely grounded coffee and sugar, which then comes out internationally as black coffee, and yes, the dregs are still there. It is different, however, from an instant coffee that comes in a sachet.

It really is all about getting together, watching a football competition in television, sipping the coffee while playing chess and having a chit chat.

There is also no rule. The customers can freely lay down, playing chess or cards for hours, no dress code required (you can even come with no tops on), you can laugh out loud, or even sleep until the next sun rises and the owner wakes you up.

This culture of drinking coffee in Indonesia is thanks to the Dutch who introduced coffee in the 17th century. Indonesia was seen as a heaven for coffee plantation thanks to its perfect climate and soil to cultivate the bean. Now, Indonesia ranks the 4th for the largest coffee producer in the world.

(See this video about an Indonesian person making a ‘kopi tubruk‘)

(Credits go respectfully to the rightful owner)

Another way to enjoy coffee in Jakarta

People love coffee. This addictive drink is believed to wake you up from sleepiness, or help you stay awake in the late night.
Basically, coffee consists of caffeine which tastes a bit bitter. The caffeine itself has reaction to stimulate brain’s work. As a result, the drinker would kind of having more energy or battery.
Moreover, there are some ways people choose to enjoy the coffee.

Coffee

Coffee bean

Typical coffee bar

A growing habit

Enjoying coffee with friends

In Indonesia itself, many coffee shops can be found to fulfill the urge of coffee lover and comfortable ambiance within the time spent on. This offer a tempting option such as free Wifi, and friendly barista/waiter/tress. However, for some people, enjoying coffee does not need to be that complicated. In certain coffee lovers’ eyes, differentiating a tasty coffee is a simple problem. No need to go to a big and famous coffee shop such as Starbucks or Coffee Bean, which actually cost a lot more expensive.

Starbucks Coffee in Indonesia

Bengawan Solo Coffee in Indonesia

The Coffee Bean in Indonesia

So what to do? An artisan coffee with bicycle and complete coffee stuffs is the answer. As simple as the equipments they bring, the process of making the coffee will not let buyer wait too long. It costs less expensive, as well. Regardless of the coffee, the artisans prefer to use local coffee which is sold per sachet. Look at that, Indonesia still holds #1 on coffee taste around the world.

A lot of them

It can come to your neighbourhood

Practicality is the virtue

Ready to serve you anywhere

Crowded places are their market

This kind of artisan coffee plays a pretty important role in Jakarta. As it is well-known that Jakarta is crazy at a traffic jam, the artisans can sell their coffee to those who is in a need for a cup of coffee during gridlock. Thus, they do not have to visit those famous coffee shops to enjoy the coffee.

Nowadays, the business of artisan coffee is growing. It can also be seen since the demand is also increasing. We can look for the artisans in busy or crowded places where people passing at most of the time. Supardi, one the artisans, has once been interviewed on TV about the business. He said that to run this coffee business, it only cost less than IDR 50.000 (around 5 US$) for the equity each day. The income he could earn is around IDR 20.000-30.000 (around 2 – 3 US$), depends on the occasion happens around their place. He also confessed that the target of buyer is certain. Most of them are in a hurry or waiting for traffic and news (applied to media people). If it can be counted, there have been more than 100 artisan coffees in Jakarta spreading throughout protocol areas.

(See this video to see the coffee drinking habit, and the artisan coffee with bicycle)

At the end, there is always a side option for enjoying coffee, isn’t it? The taste with those famous coffee shops can be compared in particular aspects, especially on time effectiveness and cost. Drinking coffee from the artisans is somehow interesting anyway. Since it is sold in the street, the drinker can witness some moments while drinking the coffee. Thus, we only waste our little energy to catch our coffee for boosting energy. Coffee is a coffee? Yes, indeed. The effect will be the same, so why we do not choose to buy coffee from the artisans?

(Credits go respectfully to the rightful owner)

Stay at your home for VIP culinary service

Most of your daily routine would be going to market to buy groceries every morning, cooking food for lunch and dinner, then repeat again for tomorrow, right?
So, what would you do when you are getting bored with the routine, or maybe you are too tired to cook?
You will try something new, you will go eat outside, have some dinner at some fancy restaurant or cafe, or trying the new local restaurant, or maybe just ordering pizza or Mcd or KFC to your house, won’t you?

Market 1

Market 2

Market 3

Cooking at home

Restaurant 1

Restaurant 2

Restaurant 3

Well, if you are in Indonesia, you don’t need to order food to be delivered BECAUSE the food will come right to your house.
Just wait in your living room and keep your ears open. Sooner or later, a sound like “tac tac tac” can be heard.
Satay, noodle, fried rice, kebab, burger, rujak (fruit salad), siomay (dumplings), batagor (fried tofu and meatball), pempek, and even coffee so you don’t need to go to Starbucks.
All of them will come passing your house, and all you need to do is to call them by clapping your hands.

Satay

Fried rice, or noodle, or angel’s hair

Fruit salad / rujak

Kebab / burger

Pempek

Siomay

fried tofu and meatball

Coffee

Furthermore, you can also see them cooking in front of you. A very VIP service, isn’t it?
One thing you must remember, though, is that you have to use your own cutlery. You must not use their plate, spoon, fork, chopsticks, or knife at all.
Why? Because they only use 1 bucket of water to clean all their cutleries over and over, so you can imagine the diseases like diarrhea, hepatitis, and others can happen any time.

Also, you need to have a stomach medicine because there is a big chance that you will not get used to Indonesian food easily.
(I suggest ‘Norit’ because my foreign friend got his stomachache cured quickly with it)

(See this video to see a pretty skillful fried rice seller, you might see this by your own eyes someday if you come to Indonesia)

(Credits go respectfully to the rightful owner)