Bandung - Tucked quietly in one of Bandung’s charming neighbourhoods, Jiwan Coffee is the kind of place you stumble upon once and end up remembering for a long time. I arrived for breakfast on a cool Bandung morning, drawn by the promise of good coffee and a calming space to start the day. What I found was far more delightful than expected — a true hidden gem where simplicity, flavour, and warmth come together beautifully.
I ordered their brewed Americano, and the first sip was enough to convince me I had found something special. It was bold yet smooth, fragrant without being overpowering, and carried subtle earthy notes that reminded me why Indonesia is one of the world’s most treasured coffee regions. It was the kind of Americano you drink slowly, appreciating every flavour as it unfolds.
To go with my morning coffee, I ordered their Caesar salad — fresh lettuce, crisp croutons, a gentle drizzle of dressing, and just the right balance of savoury and creamy flavours. It was light, refreshing, and surprisingly satisfying as a breakfast option. Jiwan Coffee takes simple dishes and elevates them by focusing on quality ingredients and clean presentation.
Indonesia has long been famous for its coffee, and a visit to a café like Jiwan is a reminder of this heritage. Among the many varieties cultivated across the archipelago, perhaps the most intriguing is Kopi Luwak, often called civet-cat coffee. This unique coffee is made from beans eaten and passed out by the Asian palm civet. The enzymes in the civet’s digestive system ferment the beans, producing a distinctive flavour that many describe as exceptionally smooth and less acidic. While controversial and often misunderstood, authentic, ethically sourced Kopi Luwak remains one of the rarest coffees in the world.
The global connection between Indonesia and coffee doesn’t end there. The word “Java”, which today is synonymous with “coffee” in many English-speaking countries, actually comes from the Indonesian island of Java, one of the earliest and most productive coffee-growing regions during the Dutch colonial era. For decades, coffee shipped from Java was considered among the best in the world, and over time, “a cup of java” simply became another way of saying “a cup of coffee.”
Sitting at Jiwan Coffee, sipping a beautifully brewed Americano, I couldn’t help but reflect on how Indonesia’s coffee culture is woven into its history, its land, and its people. Jiwan feels like a quiet tribute to this heritage — modern yet rooted, simple yet meaningful.
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