Kurasu Indonesia: a touch of Kyoto in a coffee-loving metropolitan
What comes to mind when you hear the word “Indonesia”? Bali? Or maybe if you know your coffee facts well, one of the biggest coffee-producing countries in the world? Or perhaps this is the first time you’ve heard about Indonesia.
For our founder and CEO, Yozo, what comes to mind first is their passion for coffee. He was surprised that there were a lot of people who knew Kurasu even before the first store in Jakarta opened, many of them may have visited the Kurasu store in Kyoto or have purchased coffee tools from the online store.
Having visited Jakarta several times this year, conducted several brewing sessions, and interacted with many coffee lovers there, we decided to ask him to share his experience and insight on this diverse and vibrant megacity.
Kurasu Senopati: The First Step
Senopati is where it all started for Kurasu Indonesia. Located in the southern part of Jakarta, surrounded by a business district, it is a popular area for office workers to have lunch and coffee breaks. You can find many beautifully designed cafés, restaurants, and bars, making it the most popular district to hang out in Jakarta.
Kurasu Senopati, however, is located in a rather calmer residential area of Senopati, where you can still see many people walking in the street, which is quite rare in South Jakarta. If you ever visited our Ebisugawa store in Kyoto, you could find a lot of resemblances here.
A somewhat hidden location, a wall filled with coffees and brewing tools, a slow bar counter, and most importantly, the at-home atmosphere. Kurasu Senopati is serving the community by not only providing delicious and quality coffee in or between their schedule but also a place to relax. This place makes them feel at home.
Kurasu Kissaten: Journey back in time
Kissaten (喫茶店) played a big role in Japanese coffee history. Its roots can be traced back to late 19th-century Japan when the first Kissaten was opened. Kissaten’s concept differs from store to store, reflecting the personality of the owner, making it a unique experience. Kissaten is also important in Kurasu’s history. Yozo’s parents used to own a Jazz Kissaten in Kyoto, and it not only fueled his passion for coffee but also inspired him to open a coffee shop one day.
Kurasu Kissaten is rooted in Jazz Kissaten, which was a huge movement back in the 1970s. The general concept is simple yet soothing: drinking a cup of coffee or spirits accompanied by carefully selected jazz music personally handpicked by the owner. It’s an atmosphere that is rather hard to find nowadays, as the number of Jazz Kissaten keeps declining every year.
The idea of opening Kurasu Kissaten was the result of Yozo’s conversation with Michael, our partner in Indonesia, when he was in Kyoto, searching for inspiration for the next Kurasu store in Jakarta. Inspired by Yozo’s story and also Indonesian love for old-school Japanese culture, they decided to have a go with this idea.
Kurasu Kissaten serves the community as a place of community gathering, which is also one of the pillars of Indonesian culture: the love of socializing and community. Kurasu Kissaten operates until quite late at night, with its jazz music playing in the background and DJ performance on the weekend, with a lush outdoor space, it is a place that is unique and comforting.Nestled in the lively neighborhood of Blok M, Kurasu Kissaten offers a unique dual-concept experience: coffee by day, cocktails by night.
We also hope that by opening Jazz Kissaten outside of Japan, more people can experience this amazing Japanese subculture so that it’s not forgotten and hopefully lives on.
Kurasu Menteng: Romance and Art
Kurasu Menteng is in a calm neighborhood with a unique indoor and outdoor space blend. The indoor space, if described in a word, would be “elegance,” “romantic,” or “artsy.” With its unique red carpet and several bright red pieces of furniture inspired by upscale Japanese 80s lounge, with a touch of Japanese traditional arts such as Washi (和紙) that is made from banana leaf locally in Bali (which is also used in all of our store in Jakarta), furthermore, with a piano performance every weekend, it is such an amazing piece of art!
Outdoor space in Kurasu Menteng has a relaxed vibe, with a view of the train track where you can see trains pass by; it is a perfect place to unwind after a long day. Even though it is one of the hardest places to plan, Yozo was very impressed with how this space turned out, further deepening his appreciation for the Indonesian team.
Kurasu Grand Indonesia: The Flagship
Kurasu Grand Indonesia is the newest addition to our store in Jakarta, located in one of the biggest and busiest shopping malls in Indonesia. Kurasu Grand Indonesia was opened on December 14th, with Yozo hosting an RSVP event on the 13th. He was impressed not only by the crowd but also by the great conversation he had during the event. He was grateful for all of the gifts that he got and also for being able to meet one of the guests who met him back in Bangkok a few years back.
It is an open space with a huge window, a brewing bar in the center, and the seating space surrounding it. It is also a very classic Kurasu design, with a minimalist interior with many Washi decorations (which is also made locally in Bali and made with locally sourced Banana leaf) but remains playful with the red low table; it is a perfect place to rest after a long shopping day.
What’s next for Kurasu Indonesia?
New stores, a first-ever Kurasu roastery outside of Kyoto, WOC events, and many more! Next year will be a very exciting year for Kurasu Indonesia. Yozo would like to thank all of you guys for your support, and please stay tuned for the next one!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
