We still remember when we first arrived in Jakarta and the utter excitement of finding a good coffee! It really was one of the more significant priorities for both of us (should we confess this?) And although with time we discovered numerous good coffee spots, there was of course some places that looked aesthetically pleasing, but didn't deliver the goods, so to speak!

But that seems to be a thing of the past as over these last couple of years, Jakarta has proven itself as a genuine specialty coffee capital; with local roasters and barista-led cafes opening in every corner. With Indonesia being listed as the fourth biggest coffee producer, perhaps this was just a matter of time.

Below we have identified 6 of our current personal favourites, each serving great coffee in interesting and always friendly surroundings. From as far west as Tangerang, as central as Menteng and Kuningan and as far south as Kemang, Cilandak and Cipete we have sampled and shortlisted to present you with more places to try. Of course we also encourage you to check out our series of 'Best Places to Sip Coffee in Jakarta'. You can find the links to these posts at the bottom this feature.

In the meantime, we wish you happy sipping and happy reading :)

6 Best Places to Sip Great Coffee in Jakarta

1. 1/15 Coffee Kemang

Contact Details:
Jl. Kemang Raya 37
Kemang
South Jakarta

Opening hours: Monday - Sunday 7am - 9pm

Instagram:  1/15 Coffee

We like to sip: 1/15 Coffee has recently opened its doors in the vibrant cosmopolitan neighbourhood of Kemang. News of its opening has spread like wildfire and enthusiasm for this newest addition to the 1/15 family is unlikely to wane anytime soon.

Everything on the drinks menu (that we've tried anyway), is delicious! Of course we must begin with coffee and we can absolutely recommend the latte, the piccolo and the flat white. The coffee is suitably strong and full bodied without a hint of bitterness. 

Our picks for the non-caffeinated drinks include Wira's blend (a spicy herbal tea with a delicate taste and beautiful aroma). On our most recent visit, my son ordered the babyccino - a strange order considering he is 11 years old (I think he was feeling nostalgic!) Served in a piccolo glass, the babyccino was more like a mini hot chocolate. In fact, for a child who often leaves a drink half-finished, the babyccino wasn't a bad choice at all!

Why this place? As soon as you walk in the door you can sense the friendly vibe. Manager Yvone is a sweetheart. She always greets you with a smile and is keen to ensure your time in 1/15 Kemang is thoroughly enjoyable. The food is great too. With a menu crafted by Head Chef Hikaru Take, you will find many home-style options available (mostly Western), all made with fresh and wholesome ingredients. My favourite is the trusty Avocado Toast whereas the kids seem to think the Banana waffles are unbeatable.

Other noteworthy information: Since its opening in June 2012, 1/15 Coffee has established itself as one of Jakarta's finest specialty coffee shops.

Founder of 1/15 Coffee, Nathalia Gunawan's story was in fact one of our earliest ajb Blog posts. Liz wrote this when there was only one 1/15 Coffee in Gandaria, South Jakarta. Since then quite a few other branches have opened including in Seminyak Bali, Menteng, T3 Domestic Airport (since closed), and most recently in my neighbourhood of Kemang.

2. 1/15 Coffee - Menteng

Contact details:
Jl. Dr. Kusuma Atmaja No. 79
Menteng
Kota Jakarta

Opening hours: Monday - Sunday 7am - 9pm

Instagram: 1/15 Coffee

We like to sip: Whist we're on the topic of 1/15 Coffee, we thought we'd also share some information and pics of their branch in the elegant area of Menteng, in Central Jakarta.

On our most recent visit to Menteng, my kids and I took a sneaky turn into Jl. Dr. Kusuma Atmaja. On this street is arguably our family's favourite restaurant, Kaum. But on this occasion there was no time to enjoy the pleasures of Kaum, instead with just a handful of minutes at our disposal, we headed into 1/15 Coffee (which happens to be conveniently located in the same building as Kaum!).

I ordered a piccolo latte (perfect and strong!), my eldest daughter Anneli opted for an iced mocha (a definite thumbs up!) and my younger daughter Mia selected an iced lemon tea - 'refreshing and thirst-quenching' was the verdict.

Why this place? Many reasons. Absolutely the menu, for all the same reasons as listed above in our review of 1/15 Kemang. We also love the building. A Dutch Colonial style home which has been sympathetically restored, you can feel the history of the place. Thirdly, we love it for the people watching! 1/15 Menteng attracts a lovely mix of customers - all lively and energetic and this certainly adds to the appeal of the place.

Other noteworthy information: The name 1/15 references the coffee to water ratio which brews the perfect cup of coffee.

3.  Coarse and Fine Coffee

Contact Details:
Ruku Sutera Renata
Jl. Jalur Sutera Timur Blok 1-B, No.15
Alam Sutera, Tangerang

Opening hours: Monday – Sunday 8am – 8pm

Instagram: courseandfine

Why this place? If you like us, enjoy a visit to IKEA, Ethnicraft or some of the sports stores at Alam Sutera (like Decathlon), you know that a trip like this requires an early start to beat the toll traffic. Once in Tangerang, you are probably looking for somewhere to go for coffee before the shops open at 10am. BINGO! We found that place for you! Coarse and Fine Coffee is located a few blocks away from IKEA in a 'ruco' 'shophouse' complex and is the perfect place for great coffee and small bites (such as their home made banana bread) to start your day before you hit the shops.

We like to sip: On the occasions we have visited we enjoyed The Coarse and Fine cappuccino which was brewed from a selection of beans from around the world by owner and barista Jonathan Kevin.

Other noteworthy information: Barista brewed coffee is the primary focus, so grab a coffee to go, or hang out for a morning in this light filled, bright cafe. If you are with a group head upstairs to their communal dining space or relax on one of their comfy sofas. Also worthy of note is The Coarse and Fine baristas all wear leather and batik print aprons. These are for sale and can be customised!

4.  Gordi HQ

Contact Details:
Jl. Jeruk Purut Dalam No.25
Cilandak
Jakarta Selantan

Opening hours: Monday – Sunday 9am – 5pm

Instagram: Gordi Coffee

We like to sip: On the day Liz and I visited Gordi, located in a quiet pocket of South Jakarta, there was a steady stream of customers. Two distinct groups were apparent; people wielding laptops, looking for their caffeine fix whilst punching away on their keyboards, and mothers catching up with each other, their little ones in tow.

On that particular day, Liz and I had blogging business to attend to (sounds official, hey!). We found the relaxed vibe of Gordi just what we needed and the tables were big enough that we could spread out our work materials and still drink & eat. To get us started, on the recommendation of Chief Barista Harlan, we each ordered a 'split shot', which we were assured would give us the caffeine kickstart that we needed. Comprising two coffees - a single espresso followed by a milk- based coffee, our split shots were made using beans from Malabar, West Java (for the espresso) and beans from Toraja & Situbondo for our milky coffee.

To eat I ordered a garden omelette. It was freshly made, tasty and light.

Why this place? Gordi Founder and Head Coffee Curator, Arief Said is passionate about coffee. Arief and his team strive to build a community of coffee enthusiasts. Their passion about origin, brewing and all things coffee is palpable.
But even if you're not a coffee nut, you will no doubt appreciate the open grassed space adjacent to the cafe where you can laze on the woven tikar mats and where children can stretch their legs.

Other noteworthy information: Gordi is Indonesia’s first coffee subscription service. Twice per week, two different mystery coffee blends, carefully selected from different coffee roasters in Indonesia (and occasionally beyond) are sent to the homes or offices of customers. This provides a great opportunity to try new and interesting coffee blends and learn through the process. Interested in finding out more? Visit Gordi's website, or contact Gordi Founder Arief Said directly.

5.  Lucky Cat Coffee and Kitchen

Contact Details:
South Parking Plaza Festival No.1
Jl. HR Rasuna Said
South Jakarta

Opening hours: 24 hours 7 days a week

Instagram: Lucky Cat Coffee and Kitchen

We like to sip:  We like to sip our usual cups of latte and cappuccino. If we're in the mood for a stronger cup, we either request a double shot or alternatively, opt for a piccolo latte. The coffee which is brewed from local beans is good, and we especially love the cups in which it is served.

Why this place? Firstly, the service is prompt and the staff are friendly and welcoming. The food is reliable - there's definitely something on the menu for everyone. On the weekend Lucky Cat is frequented by people dropping in after a season at the nearby sports stadium, Stadion Soemantri Brodjonegoro so there's quite an energy about the place.

Other noteworthy information: Open 24 hours 7 days a week you can have your coffee fix whenever you need it. Also the breakfast menu is available 24 hours.

Furthermore, in an area of Jakarta that is known for many malls, it is refreshing to head to a stand alone cafe where you can sit and enjoy the atmosphere.

6.  Work Coffee 

Contact Details:
Jl.Pangeran Antasari no. 20A
Cipete Selatan

Opening hours: Daily – 10am – 11pm | Friday – Sunday 2pm – 10pm

Instagram: workcoffeeindonesia

We like to sip: Work Coffee is located on busy Antasari and is an 'industrial mix recycled design' cafe - come work space, serving coffee made from local beans roasted on site. This is the place to stop when you're fighting bad traffic, in and around Antasari, and it's smoke free. Regulars come for the great coffee (blends, manual brews and single origin varieties) and light breakfasts, or a casual work lunch with colleagues. The Work Coffee cafe latte is our coffee pick which is made from their house blend of Bali Belantih, Toraja Mamasa, Gayo and Flores beans.

Why this place? Their simple menu is filled with lots of sweet treats which include their best seller, the warm dark chocolate cake served with vanilla ice-cream and just recently they have introduced the Work apple pie. Both of these sweet treats are made daily in a local kitchen and we recommend both to accompany your coffee of choice. On the day we visited, regulars were first checking the cake display (at the entrance to the cafe) before finding a seat in the cafe.

Other noteworthy information: If you are travelling past before opening hours you can't miss the huge Darbotz painted roller shutter that covers three quarters of the building. It's very cool!

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Words: Jo Stevens & Liz McClean      Photography: a journey bespoke