Koffie Warung Tinggi d/h Tek Soen Hoo

Koffie Warung Tinggi is a new established coffee shop, located in the corner of 5th floor West Mall, Grand Indonesia Shopping Town. I don't usually wander around the 5th floor of the mall, so I did not notice until few fellow food bloggers made it on their blog. I was more than curious to try. See, I'm a sucker for coffee, so it's like a must to visit new coffee shops. Of course, I took my mom, the coffee connoisseur to also try this newbie with me.

To my surprise, the tag shows that it was established in 1878, while I just notice the name recently. That's when my mom said, "Oh, I know this place. It used to be very famous for selling coffee beans in Hayam Wuruk area.. Oh there you go, it was known as Tek Soen Hoo." Now I see. It started in 1878 when Tek Soen Hoo was just a modest convenient store in Hayam Wuruk area, and how it developed into a coffee brand supplier to Indonesia's best hotels and supermarkets. And in 2013, a modern coffee house is established by OPCO Group. 

It was a long story of a coffee shop, claimed to be the first in Jakarta. I love the historical touch of this shop already. I'm cheap, eh? Well, Koffie Warung Tinggi, of course, sells mainly Indonesian local coffee, coffee companions and heavy bites. Since I had my lunch, I decided to try their coffee and bought martabak to balance my bitter coffee. So here's our coffee break.

long black 8oz (22k)

cappuccino 8oz (30k)

martabak manis plain (15k) with nutella (20k)

My mom fell in love with their long black as it was bitter with low acidity just the way she liked it. She said it was most certainly the best cup of coffee she ever had. See, she loves her coffee black. I also llove my cappuccino so much, it was smooth, creamy and topped with just enough foam. No sugar added as the companion is the sweet martabak topped with nutella jam. This martabak topped with nutella jam has been really famous throughout Jakarta. Warung Tinggi's version was delightful. I love the soft texture of martabak and oh those melted nutella jam. What's not to love? The butter was just enough not to make it too oily and ruin the whole plate.

Overall, I had a really pleasant coffee break at Koffie Warung Tinggi. I must admit that cup of cappuccino definitely has won my heart. Definitely going to return to this historical coffee shop.

the leftovers.. nothing!

Until then, cheers!

Koffie Warung Tinggi d/h Tek Soen Hoo
Grand Indonesia Shopping Town

West Mall 5th fl.
Jl. M.H. Thamrin No. 1

Central Jakarta 10310

Ph.: 6221 - 2358 0311/2
website | twitter

Goedkoop

Goedkoop is a small Dutch cafe, located in Bendungan Hilir area.. I have heard of this so-called small gem several times, thanks to the social media, and finally got the chance to visit.. Goedkoop literally means 'cheap' in Dutch and their tagline is 'warung kopi belanda' or Dutch coffee shop.. So, you know that I expected good, cheap coffee coming to the small cafe.. :)

It was Saturday afternoon after lunch hour when Jakarta's traffic was quite friendly.. The cafe only have 4 parking lots, which was already full, that we have to park across the street.. Inside, a small cafe, decorated in combination of vintage and modern furniture with dimmed lighting and ivory walls.. We picked a nice, personal spot in the corner, at the back of the cafe, which was quite nice.. Too bad this little cafe has no separation between smoking and non-smoking section..

The menu was quite simple in a single printed sheet, dominated by coffee and tea selection, then a few light meals and main courses.. So I decided to have hot koffie bon bon 18k, while my friend picked hot goedkoop latte 25k then we shared poffertjes 23k..

I honestly do not know whether those drinks are actual Dutch specialties, so let's just go on to the verdict time! The hot koffie bon bon was pretty! I love the coffee-milk-foam layer which.. The coffee itself was quite strong.. I would not recommend this to those who are not a frequent coffee drinkers, as your heart may not able to handle the effect.. The taste was balanced, bitter-sweet just the way I like my coffee, though my non-coffee drinker friend said it's too bitter.. 

The goedkoop latte was mediocre.. The tea and milk taste were too overpowering, I can barely taste the coffee, plus it was too sweet for my liking.. Definitely not my favorite..

The poffertjes were perfect! It was fluffy and soft and light and not overly sweet.. I love those tiny round mini Dutch pancakes.. Delish! Too bad the portion was a bit small.. One plate consisted of 8 small pieces, which I believe I can finished all in split second..

Overall, it was a pleasant coffee and snack experience in Goedkoop.. Our bills came in a small traditional clog, which was really cute.. The price was quite reasonable though may not be classified as 'cheap' for me.. One thing that bothers me is the service, which, in my opinion, needs some improvement.. The waiters were not friendly, but I gave credit for their speed as our orders came real quickly.. It was during our one-hour visit that not a single smile was given.. Started from taking our orders, delivering the orders and until handing us our bills.. It's quite disappointing for a 5% service charge..

Goedkoop

Jl. Bendungan Hilir Raya no. 62

Central Jakarta
Ph.: 6221 573 4430

www.goedkoopjkt.com

Crematology Coffee Roasters

I am a coffee lover, well, a coffee addict actully.. It is a must to have a cup of coffee everyday.. Always remember that "a day without coffee is like sleep".. However, I noticed that Jakarta used to offer only those franchise coffee brand, which, in my opinion, has a decreasing quality day by day.. Lucky for a coffee lover like me, Jakarta nowadays is flooded with local, small artisan coffee, with curated coffee beans gathered from Indonesia.. I must say that I am quite spoiled and even overwhelmed by the amount of the new comers in town..

It was Saturday afternoon and the traffic was quite friendly.. My friend and I drove to Senopati with no specific destination, but keen to try one of the coffee shops there.. We have heard of Crematology Coffee Roasters and more than willing to give it a try.. The place is quite easy to be found and we arrived around 1:00 pm, which is not really common for people to have their coffee.. 

Let me tell you, I fell in love with this place instantly.. What not to love? Soft caramel color which dominates the whole area actually brought a nice, homey feeling.. Love the chairs and sofa, well basically everything! Wood is the main element of the shop, which combined with a hint of light grey.. It was modern and chic.. The coffee bar is located at the end of the room where you have to place your orders.. Next to the cashier is a mini display of cake selections.. And in the wall behind the coffee bar, written "Home to the finest baristas in Jakarta".. Well, we'll see..

We picked a corner sofa for two with a really short wooden table.. My friend was really afraid of accidentally kicking the table haha.. But I really love our spot.. It was private, cozy and intimate.. Definitely my kind of coffee shop..

I decided to have a cup of hot coffee latte 30k and my companion picked the ice version of it.. My friend loved her iced latte and finished it within split second.. Mine came shortly after, topped with a swirl latte art.. The coffee taste stood out as I had my first sip.. It was quite strong but smoothly went well with the cream.. The sweetness level is yours to decide, but I prefer my coffee a bit bitter, so I decide no to add any sugar.. Overall, it was a pleasant experience having coffee in Crematology and I will surely be back for more..

it's the short table :)

Crematology Coffee Roasters

Jl. Suryo No. 25

Senopati, South Jakarta

Starbucks Winter Indulgence

now, which one of you do not know the name Starbucks Coffee? it's definitely the most successful and largest coffee chain in the world, bringing coffee to more than 60 countries.. what I love most about Starbucks is the homey feeling I get in every store and the continuous innovation which brought new menus in every three months.. the living proof of never get too satisfied with your current achievement.. at the end of 2013, I was lucky to be invited to a food tasting panel held in the new Starbucks store in MD Place, Kuningan.. this was aimed to introduce Asian Dolce Frappucinno and three new food menu, which will be launched on January 7, 2014 and available until March 3, 2014.. so be sure you dont't miss it..

here's a sneak peak on how the Asian Dolce Frappucinno would look like.. it's a blend of dark roasted coffee, signature espresso, rich sweetness of Dolce sauce, blended together and classically topped with whipped cream.. in my humble opinion, I loved it! I can taste the strong coffee which should be enough to wake me up.. the Asian Dolce is also available in iced and latte.. I usually prefer hot coffee to the cold one since I can taste stronger caffeinne, but the frappuccino was quite strong already.. so the choice is yours ;)

like I mentioned above, Starbucks launches three new food menus.. let's start our journey with Potato Salad with Fruity Kraftkorn 32k.. it's a sandwich made from kraftkorn mix and folded with raisins, apricots and walnuts; layered with potato salad.. alright, let's be honest.. initially, I thought mixing sweet kraftkorn with the savory potato salad was a big mistake.. I mean, combining raisins and salty potato just doesn't seem to make sense to me.. however, I was so wrong.. it was really good! I love the sweet savory combination in one bite.. the potato salad was really delicious!

our second menu is Smoked Chicken and Mushroom Croissant 26.5k.. baked buttery croissant dough, filled with smoked chicken and mushroom then topped with bechamel sauce and cheese.. this has successfully become the highlight of the night.. it was really delicious! I love everything about it.. the croissant was buttery and crunchy, perfectly combined with the generous fillings.. you should not miss this one..

lastly, came the only sweet dish of the night, Rhubarb and Apple Crumble 30k, sweet buttery almond dough filled with tangy rhubarb, combined with fresh apples and topped with almond crumble.. it looked very pleasing in the eyes.. the beautiful dessert.. however, I tasted that the dish was too sweet for my tastebuds.. fellow foodies thought the dish would've been more balanced if there were more sourness from the rhubarb.. I like the crumbles though..

Starbucks Coffee
MD Place Kuningan Ground Floor
Jl. Setiabudi Selatan No. 7
South Jakarta

It's Autumn in Starbucks Coffee!

what do you think when you heard the word 'autumn'? well, here in Indonesia, we may not be familiar with autumn which exclusively enjoyed by our fellow four-seasons countries.. however, whenever I heard the word 'autumn', I instantly think about the orange-red falling leaves, the cool weather and warm feeling.. somehow I get the impression that autumn is very romantic though I haven't got any chance experiencing it myself.. not to worry, my friend, as Starbucks Coffee has brought us some pieces of autumn to be enjoyed with your loved ones..

the messy table of any food tasting event..

I fell in love with this cute new Starbucks tumbler

let start our journey with a cup of Starbucks' autumn blend.. a blend of coffee from Sumatra and the Antigua region of Guatemala.. expertly roasted to create a full-bodied brew with subtle spice and nuances of herbs, lemon, cedar and cocoa.. paired it with hazelnut bar (Rp24,000), newly introduced Starbucks' cream cheese sponge cake marbled with infused Starbucks Sumatra coffee sponge cake and topped with whole roasted hazelnut.. let me give you some time to enjoy the description :)

so, here's how to do it right.. once you have your cup of autumn blend, bring it near to your nose and smell it.. Starbucks' autumn blend smells very chocolaty with hints of spices.. then slurp your coffee to have the first taste.. in my opinion, autumn blend tasted really nice, not too bitter but still quite strong.. I can still taste hints of chocolate and spices though mostly my tongue taste the strong coffee.. once you slurped, take a sip to ensure all your taste buds are awaken.. then take a bite of the hazelnut bar and while it's still in your mouth, take another sip of autumn blend.. melted sweet chocolate, crunchiness of the roasted hazelnut, perfectly balanced with the bitterness of coffee.. it was heavenly and I can do that all day long :)

onto the next food parade.. let me introduce to the Starbucks' savory world.. first we have ugly chicken black pepper puff (Rp19,000).. the flaky puff pastry filled with black pepper chicken and potato then topped with bread crumbs.. why does it called 'ugly'? well, because the appearance maybe deceiving as it was considered not appetizing by the looks.. personally, I think that it was named 'ugly' because you'll get messy after eating it due to the falling bread crumbs.. taste wise, it was quite good but more like curry puff to me as I barely taste the black pepper.. another food blogger mentioned that too many potato composition compare to the chicken chunks.. but some other loved it the most.. well, talking about personal preferences.. 

this autumn, Starbucks also introduced a new coffee drink, ristretto bianco.. ristretto is a very short shot of espresso while bianco means 'white' in Italy.. together, ristretto bianco is a rich, pleasantly smooth and velvety espresso beverage.. it was created by forcing less water through the coffee, which results in a fuller bodied shot with a deep, rich favor.. in summary, a stronger and richer espresso mixed with microfoam steamed milk which was poured to a a small white forms on top.. my ristretto bianco was marked with a cute, little heart on top.. it tasted really good! I love the not-too-bitter taste of the coffee, combined with smooth, silky milk foam.. it was definitely much stronger than the usual espresso and I bet every coffee addict will love one..

continuing our journey with the smoked chicken croissant sandwich (Rp42,000).. baked butter croissant spread with mayonnaise layered with lettuce, smoked chicken, tomato and cheddar cheese.. it was my favorite dish of the night.. served cold, the croissant was very smooth and buttery, just perfect for the cold smoked chicken and veggies.. I truly love Starbucks' way to serve their sandwich cold, only to ensure that the veggies were kept fresh.. however, if you want your sandwich warm, simply ask your local baristas and they will be happy to help..

the last new drink was salted caramel mocha which can be served warm, iced or as frappuccino blended beverage.. creamy mix of espresso and velvety steamed milk, blended with mocha sauce and toffee nut flavored syrup then topped with whipped cream, buttery caramel sauce and a mixture of turbinado sugar and smoked sea salt.. so imagine a cup of mocha coffee topped with salted caramel sauce.. it was a mix of sweet, bitter and savor on one sip.. I love the frappuccino version of this which was very refreshing.. definitely my kind of mood booster..

finally, look who's back.. red bean and green tea pudding (Rp28,000), purple yam coconut cake (Rp30,000) and strawberry crumble cheese cake (Rp35,000).. they are all ready to accompany your coffee break..

Starbucks Coffee

World Trade Centre II - Lower Ground Floor

Jl. Jend. Sudirman Kav. 29
Jakarta 12930

Kopitiam Oey

one Saturday, I checked in Sentul in my long-forgotten facebook account.. to be specific, I checked in at Kopitiam Oey, Sentul.. and my friend directly commented on how far I can go for a cup of coffee.. so here's the story..

well, it was a lovely Saturday and my mom suddenly come out nowhere with an idea to go to Sentul area.. I honestly don't know what kind of TV shows she watched that inspired her but anyhow, we ended up driving our car to south of Jakarta.. it was still very early in the morning and we haven't had our morning coffee.. I've been willing to take her to try Kopitiam Oey for their strong coffee, since my mom is a coffee expert, imho.. so when we saw the sign heading to Kopitiam Oey, I just could not resist to park and drop by.. located inside Taman Budaya Sentul, the place was easily noticed.. consistently bringing the old China town atmosphere with wooden chairs, Chinese ornaments and tempo doeloe menu, I found this place unique and cozy at the same time..

indoor-outdoor seating area

the vintage menu

so my mom ordered the classic kopi soesoe Indotjina (Rp13,000) while I'm trying to be adventurous by ordering chai atawa teh boemboe India (Rp16,000) with a portion of roti prata susu pisang coklat keju (Rp20,000).. the coffee was enjoyable, bitter with a strong taste of caffeine.. definitely my mom's kind of coffee.. while my chai was literally milk tea with various herbs, including ginger.. and turned out not my favorite.. not that it tasted bad, but I'm not a ginger fan, thus this was definitely not my kind of drink.. my mom ended up finishing my glass.. the prata bread with all those condiments was really appetizing and tasted just as good as it looked.. however, after a few bites, I felt quite overwhelmed since a lot of different taste was bursting in my mouth.. a tad too sweet for my liking but love the prata bread..

Kopitiam Oey

Jln. Siliwangi, Taman Budaya Sentul City

Bogor, West Java
Ph.: 6221 8796 1562

www.kopioey.com