My Coffee Journey in 2024

The 2024 was a year where I visited a few coffee shops and a year where I re-kindled my passion for coffee again.It was why this community was made, a place where we can talk only about cafe experience, coffee, and brews. It was the year when I eventually wanted to create a community revolving around the things I genuinely love, and it has defined my journey here. I love coffee shops not just for their coffee but also for the experience behind it. It’s safe to say that 2024 was the year I realized when I travelled to a new city that all I was looking for was their cafe experience. I couldn't care less about others but the cafe in that city, which could give me rough ideas of its demographic and culture. Besides coffee, I enjoy observing people, and the cafe is a great place to learn about everything.

Throughout 2024, coffee was my friend through different stages of life. I met some great brewers and coffee variants and discovered new cafes when I travelled. I am grateful for all the cafes I visited that year, and as I travelled more, my last stop was this place called “Side House” coffee. In that last stop of the year, I realized some places are great but often slipped through my mind, just like “Side House”. Today is when I wanted to talk about my coffee memories and hopes for the following year.

My most memorable coffee experience...

This year, I got to try Durian Coffee, which was so unique. It was an espresso-based coffee with fresh durian mixed into it. This menu can be found at Gandhok Coffee. Honestly, nothing tops that experience of that coffee. This year, I also explored some cafes with my friends rather than just going alone. As much as I love going alone, I am glad I got company through these new places and cafes in 2024.

At the same time, I also shifted some of my cafe experience from being typically on my laptop to reading books. I’ve been enjoying not bringing anything to the cafe and simply enjoying my quiet time with books and reading. Some cafes are honestly optimized for reading and chit-chatting. Not all cafes are built to be a place to meet up or work from. These days, newer cafes are built that way, too. The trend that set the tone was that the cafe isn’t a place to work but back to a place to socialize and read.

Last coffee of the year in Side House

This time at the side house, I also brought the last book I read in 2024, Junji Ito. While sipping a great tiramisu latte, I was flipping through its pages. The chair was also great for reading, and the whole atmosphere of the place was fitting for reading more than working. It was also quite crowded since it was the last day of the year, and people wanted to catch up with their friends or family.

This coffee shop is also known for its butter chicken. It’s one of the best in town, and I have to say that this coffee combo works really great. I don’t think I can find better butter chicken than this coffee shop offers. It’s protein-packed, too, which I typically enjoy eating.

Where will my coffee and cafe adventure take me?

I hope that in 2025, I can visit a coffee shop called “Bacha Coffee.” It’s a coffee boutique supposedly offering the best of the best coffee. They have various coffee selections and are only available in one area of Indonesia. So, that’s one of my coffee destination wish lists. At the same time, I want to visit more coffee plantations as they are always fun to go around. If you don’t know, coffee cherries are lovely when ripe.

There’s also an area called Bandung. It’s a city with a vibrant coffee shop scene that I wanted to check out in 2025. As for overseas, I really hope I can finally make it to Vietnam to immerse myself in their coffee scene. I heard it’s where I would feel at home, but we’ll see how I’ll make that happen.

At one point, I thought my journey would end because things were starting to bore me, but look, apparently, I need to cast my net farther to experience more brews, hear more stories, and experience through them.

What about you? What are your coffee and cafe experience goals in 2025? I hope that this year will lead you to a great cafe or a newer coffee experience where you can enjoy a heavenly cup of coffee.

See you around!