A guide to specialty coffee in Bandung
Bandung has one of the best specialty coffee scenes in Indonesia. West Java grows its own beans, the city is full of people who care about what they drink, and new roasters and cafes open regularly. But "specialty coffee" gets used loosely.
What specialty coffee means (for now)
Depending on who you ask, specialty coffee is coffee that scores 80 points or above on a 100-point scale set by the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA). The scoring evaluates aroma, flavour, aftertaste, acidity, body, balance, sweetness, and consistency. Coffees below 80 are considered commercial grade.
If you ask us, it's not necessarily about the numerical score, because cultural differences have a significant impact on how coffee is "graded". What might be considered a defect in Asia might be a prized trait (like the so-called Rio "defect"). We'd prefer to say that specialty coffee is intentional. The farm selected specific varietals and processed the cherries carefully. The roaster profiled the beans to highlight certain desired characteristics. The barista extracted the shot or brewed the coffee with a specific goal in mind. Specialty coffee happens when coffee is viewed beyond utility and function as a vehicle of caffeine.
What it's not
Specialty coffee is not about fancy packaging or high prices. It's not automatically better just because it says "single origin" on the bag. And it's not just pour-over. You can make specialty-grade espresso, batch brew, or any other method.
It's also not about snobbery. Good specialty cafes will explain things if you're curious and leave you alone if you're not. If a cafe makes you feel stupid for not knowing what "natural process" or "carbonic maceration" means, that's just a bad cafe.
West Java's coffee
Bandung sits in the middle of some of Indonesia's best growing regions, and we're so blessed to be located here. Beans from Jawa Barat have a clean profile with medium body and mild acidity. A lot of the beans we've sourced at HomageMakes (through Pullo) have pronounced stonefruit qualities. Common growing areas include Pangalengan, Garut, Puntang, Ciwidey, Patuha, and Manglayang.
Where to find specialty coffee in Bandung
There are a few places we love to visit when exploring coffee in Bandung. Many of these places are run by our friends. They serve quality coffee, care about sourcing, and are always trying to improve their offerings.
Toko Kopi Lajeng — A slow bar in a house's front yard. Drinks are brewed one at a time while the barista talks you through what's in the cup. They roast their own beans. Jl. Terusan Bukit Dago Selatan No. 7, Dago Atas. Open 07:00-21:00 daily (closed Wednesday, Friday break 11:00-13:00). @tokokopi.lajeng
TTKR (Tri Tangtu Kopi Roasters) — Specialty coffee and legendary sourdough bread under one roof. The Cranberry Cheese roti sells out fast, so arrive early or pre-order via Tokopedia to ensure that you get your fix. Rocky has been making some killer croissants as well, you've gotta try. Note: Lagi tutup untuk renovasi dari tanggal 16 Februari. Jl. Buah Batu No. 129, Cijagra, Lengkong. Check @ttkrcoffee for the latest updates
Fugol Coffee Roasters — An award-winning joint with a serious bean lineup. Come here to get inspired; Ko Jhon and Ci Mandy have a serious vision and purpose that shapes everything, from the interior to the packaging to the selection of beans to the way they compete. Jl. Pasir Salam II No. 9, Regol. Open 08:00-17:00 daily. @fugolcoffeeroasters on IG
THF (Two Hands Full) — One of Bandung's original specialty coffee spots, open since 2013. Strong V60 filter coffee, skilled baristas, and a solid all-day food menu. Both locations are super comfortable and great for larger groups, though the Dago branch is the original. They've been hosting lots of public cupping sessions at their Hutanika location. Jl. Asia Afrika No. 91-97, Sumur Bandung (or Jl. Ir. H. Juanda No. 113, Dago). Open 07:00-21:00 daily. @thf.coffee
Good Things Coffee Roastery — Roasts their own beans on-site and stocks one of the more diverse single-origin lineups in Bandung. Enjoy some really affordable coffee in the mornings! Jl. Wangsareja No. 11, Paledang, Lengkong. Open Mon-Fri 07:00-17:00, Sat-Sun 07:00-22:00. @goodthingscff
Daily Routine — Manual brew coffee in a brand new location not so far from HomageMakes, run by the legendary Bang Ucok. Come for great conversation and a wide range of different coffees. Jl. A. Yani No.25, Kb. Pisang, Kec. Sumur Bandung. @dailyroutine.coffee
Dasamuka — Is it a slow bar? Maybe not. If you haven't been to Kang Isal's place then you are missing out — not just on affordable and good coffee, but on the Bandung coffee "scene". Hours are confirmed daily via Instagram Story and the place is more often than not closed during Ramadan, so check before visiting. Cibeunying, Bandung. @dasamuka.bdg
HomageMakes — Classic coffee only, with a pretty huge lineup of filter coffee (right now, we have one that's pretty expensive at 300K a server, hehe). We focus on doing the basics well. That means carefully-extracted espresso and filter. Monthly free public cuppings if you want to learn more about what you're tasting.
PS: If you know a place that should be here, we'd like to hear about it.
How to tell if a cafe takes coffee seriously
A few quick signals:
- They can tell you about the beans. Where they're from, who roasted them, what processing method was used.
- They offer black coffee options. A cafe that only serves coffee with milk and syrup is a different kind of place than what we're talking about today.
- The menu isn't enormous. A short, focused menu usually means they're doing those things well.
- They change their offerings. Rotating single-origin beans, seasonal menus, or limited roasts. Many specialty spots do limited-time events.
If you're new to specialty coffee
Order a long black or an Americano if you still need a kick; otherwise, why not try filter coffee? If it tastes sour, bitter, or burnt, that's useful information about the cafe. If it tastes balanced, clean, and interesting, you're in the right place.
If you want milk, we recommend a magic, which lets you taste the coffee and not just milk. A latte is gentler if you're still adjusting.
Don't worry about knowing the "right" answer. The point is to pay attention to what you taste and figure out what you like. See you in Bandung!