Jakarta Coffee Trip: Kemang

Posted on May 14, 2026 by Nabila Satwikawati

Jakarta may not move as fast as London, but it’s certainly not as chill or laid-back as Melbourne either. For me this city runs on a different kind of energy often chaotic, but in motion. Living in a fast-paced city like Jakarta, while working in a high-speed role like mine (in construction hehe), has taught me to see coffee as a pause button. A small ritual to slow things down, amidst the chaos.

After years of living in Jakarta since graduating from Bandung, Kemang remains one of my favourite places for a morning coffee. There’s something about its laid-back neighborhood vibe, which make its neighborhood feels homie. I also have quite some favourite coffee spots there, though sadly, some have already closed. Still, if you ever find yourself wandering around the Kemang area, here are a few coffee shops I’d recommend.

Goni Coffee
Serving coffee for more than a decade, Goni still happens to be one of my all-time favourites. It’s a small café with serious coffee, no gimmicks, just great coffee. Most of the customers are regulars who keep coming back for the quality. Years ago, they also made their own ginger beer, which was amazing, though sadly it’s no longer on the menu. I’ve been visiting this cafe regularly since I lived in Jakarta after Bandung. After I went back to from my study in London four years ago, this was the 1st coffee shop that I visited, and yeah the barista still remember me.

Good Flat White at Goni Coffee,
Jl. Kemang Timur No.65

Antipodean Coffee
Another Kemang legend that’s been around for more than ten years. It’s a great spot for brunch as well. Rumour has it the place is owned by a Kiwi, and their flat white is strong, bold, and satisfying. Their coffee is typically strong, plus they got a lot of menu as well. It’s a really good spot to hangout with friends.

Strong Flat White at Antipodean Kemang,
Jl. Kemang Selatan I

1/15 Coffee
Also already serving coffee for quite some time, 1/15 is known for its solid espresso-based drinks and seasonal single-origin offerings. The café has a simple, clean and minimalist design. If I visited this coffee shop my favorite is their flat white. 1/15 got a really smooth flat white.

Smooth Flat White at 1/15 Kemang,
Jl. Kemang Raya No.37

N.O.B Barnyard
Compared to the first three, this one is relatively new. The coffee is good, the pastries are great, but what really stands out is the ambience. They have a large backyard where vegetables are grown, so you can sip your coffee while staring at a veggie garden, perhaps contemplating life, or casually planning your retirement like me (kidding). They got cold brew as well, it’s really awesome to counter Jakarta heat during the day.

Nitro Cold Brew at N.O.B Barnyard,
Jl. Kemang Selatan 11 No.6

Omacoffee Brewers Kemang
One of the newer kids in the neighbourhood, Omacoffee has only been around for about a year. I’ve only visited this cafe several times, but it completely won me over. Both the filter coffee and espresso-based drinks were excellent. Their barista are friendly as well and I put this a new addition to my go to coffee shop list.

Filter Coffee at Omacoffee Brewers,
Jl. Benda Raya No.12C

Well, Jakarta’s coffee culture keeps expanding. Compared to years ago, there are now countless coffee shops popping up across the city, serving better coffee and showcasing local beans. My own taste has evolved too. I used to lean toward espresso-based drinks, but lately I’ve been exploring single-origin filter coffee, enjoying how each bean tells its own flavor and story.

Through coffee, I’ve had meaningful conversations with baristas and fellow coffee lovers. Beside that, I try to learn to appreciate the journey behind every single batch of beans: whether they come from West Java, Aceh, Rwanda, Ethiopia, or Honduras. They travel hundreds, sometimes thousands of kilometers, just to arrive in our cup.

It’s a simple reminder to be grateful for small things: like a good cup of coffee, enjoyed slowly. So, always be grateful and keep enjoying coffee, mates ☕

Brisbane Coffee Trip

Posted on January 22, 2026 by Nabila Satwikawati

I should have finished writing about this Brisbane coffee trip back in 2024. But life, as usual, got me busy and distracted. I visited Brisbane in early autumn 2024 for a short course at Griffith University. At first, I didn’t expect that Brisbane’s coffee culture is quietly thriving.

I stayed in central Brisbane, and whenever I’m in travel mode, I become surprisingly disciplined. Early mornings, a morning walk, and coffee before class, on repeat, everyday. Brisbane turned out to be a perfect city for this routine. Most coffee shop open very early in the morning, which I absolutely loved.

There’s something special about a city that understands people need coffee before anything else starts. I found myself wishing Jakarta would adopt this rhythm too.

However, one small cultural difference: many coffee shops in Brisbane close on weekends. Coming from Jakarta, where coffee shops are busiest on Saturdays and Sundays, this felt almost strange to me. Well, here are the coffee shops in Brisbane that gave me a solid reason to wake up early, fueling my morning walks and slow morning before class

Coffee Anthology
This was the very first coffee shop I visited after arriving in the city. A solid introduction to Brisbane’s coffee culture. Great coffee, cozy, and welcoming. The plus point is they open everyday.

The Maillard Project
Located just across from where I stayed at Charlotte St. Got great selection of beans, convenient, and great coffee. Flat white is smooth and well balanced, but sadly it’s closed on the weekends.

The Maillard Project at 119 Charlotte St

John Mills Himself
Small, efficient, and to the point, this ended up being my favourite. I would recommend this coffee shop for anyone who is visiting Brisbane. Later, when I went to Patricia Coffee Brewers during my Melbourne Coffee Trip, it instantly reminded me of John Mills Himself: compact, focused, just good coffee done awesomely right.

Edward Espresso
What I remember most is the uphill walk to get there from the central. A great morning workout, rewarded with a satisfying cup of coffee at the top. Open early in the morning, crowded with people waiting for their coffee.

Ricochet Espresso
Not far from Edward Espresso. Strong coffee and straightforward. I remember I need to rush back to the apartment because I only got few minutes before my class started.

Well, I only spent a few days in Brisbane, but they were good days. Good coffee, beautiful bridges, and a great city. It’s a well-paced city for morning walks, with (again) good coffee as a reward before class. After finishing my studies in London, I hadn’t experienced this kind of rhythm again. Brisbane quietly brought back that feeling, the balance between moving forward and just enjoy the present.

Brisbane may not shout its coffee culture like Melbourne does, but I think it doesn’t need to. It just thrives quietly for its people.

Travelling Through Bridges

Posted on September 12, 2025 by Nabila Satwikawati

If I could travel back and ask my senior high school self whether I would choose civil engineering again, the answer would still be a solid yes. No doubt about it.

Back in high school, we once had an assignment to develop a simple website. I named mine Constructio which means construction in Latin. Sadly the free domain for the website is gone now, so I can’t open it anymore. On that little website, I wrote a few short articles about skyscrapers and bridges. One of them was about Tower Bridge. Little did I know, it would become a tiny hint of the path I was about to take years later.

Fast forward to today, as a civil engineer, I’ve developed a unique habit whenever I travel: I always look for bridges. For me, bridges are not just structures; they are pieces of engineering and art combined. When I look at them, not only admiring their structure complexity and beauty, I also think about the history behind it. Lately, capturing bridges through my lens has become one of my favorite parts of traveling.

Here are some of my favorite bridges I’ve captured so far, arranged from the oldest to the most recent to show how bridge has evolved over time

Charles Bridge (Karluv most), Prague, Czech Republic. Completed in 1357, this is the oldest bridge I’ve ever visited so far. A timeless stone arch bridge, and definitely one of my all-time favorites. Walking across it feels like stepping into a medieval era. I visited the bridge during a summer break and spent hours both crossing it and admiring it from afar. Influenced by Gothic architecture and it is considered as one of masterpieces of medieval engineering

Pulteney Bridge, Bath, UK. I visited this bridge in autumn, and Bath during that season is definitely my favorite. I really recommend to visit this city during autumn. Pulteney Bridge is a stone arch bridge over the River Avon in Bath. Built in 1769, this bridge is really beautiful with row of shops which built along the deck.

Bridge of Sighs, Cambridge, UK. A beautiful pedestrian bridge at St John’s College, Cambridge. It’s named bridge of sighs because of its resemblance to the Venetian bridge of sighs in Venice, Italy. This Gothic style bridge which finished in 1831, is spanning over the River Cam. Its beauty is best admired while punting along the River Cam.

Westminster Bridge, London, UK. The current bridge is a cast iron arch bridge, standing proudly next to Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. It offers one of the best views of London’s landmarks. Even Monet and Canaletto capture the beauty of the bridge through their painting. Actually, the first bridge, which is a stone arch bridge, is built around 1750. However, the bridge is subsiding badly and rebuilt in 1862 as a cast iron arch bridge.

Tower Bridge, London, UK. Well, it is definitely my most favorite bridge in the world. Long before I studied in London, I had already written about it in that high school assignment. Years later, the first place I went to when I arrived in London was, of course, Tower Bridge. Completed in 1894, the Tower Bridge is a combination of suspension and bascule bridge. When visiting London, you should look for its lift time, so you can see how wonderful this bridge when lifting its deck.

Bridge of Sighs, Oxford, UK. Quite similar in concept to Cambridge’s, but instead of crossing a river, this one crosses a road connecting two parts of Hertford College in Oxford. Finished in 1914, with its beautiful architecture, besides Radcliffe Camera, this bridge is one of the popular photo spots in Oxford as well.

Jiefang Bridge, Tianjin, China. I saw this steel truss bascule bridge during a river cruise in Tianjin. A blend of steel truss structure and bascule system. I saw it during night and the lights are just so fascinating highlighting the complexity of its structure. This bridge is finished in 1927.

Harbour Bridge, Sydney, Australia. A massive steel arch bridge which built in 1932, famously known as the widest long-span bridge in the world. I really like it when passing this bridge and see the steel structure above me. You can enjoy the view of this bridge close and afar, especially from the sydney opera house area.

Story Bridge, Brisbane, Australia. A steel cantilever truss bridge finished in 1940. I was in awe when I saw the details of its truss structure up close. Visiting it at night was really worth it, I even try to capture the beauty if it through my painting.

London Bridge, London, UK. I think most of us already familiar with the name, because of our childhood song. However, the current bridge which finished in 1973 is a prestressed concrete structure, simple yet play significant role for the traffic.

Millennium Bridge, London, UK. A sleek steel suspension pedestrian bridge that leads you straight to Tate Modern. I like the modern design of it, but it’s said when the bridge just finished in 2000, it is quite wobbly.

MediaCityUK Footbridge, Salford, UK. A modern cable-stayed pedestrian bridge built in 2011 with a striking design. the bridge has asymmetric twisted deck, where a boat can pass through it.

3D-Printed Bridge, Amsterdam, Netherlands. This bridge is second on my list after Van Gogh museum when I visited Amsterdam. What makes this bridge interesting is because it’s the world’s first fully 3D-printed steel bridge. This 3D-printed steel bridge is completed in 2021. As a civil engineer which passionate with digital technology this bridge show a glimpse into the future of construction technology.

Every bridge I’ve visited tells a different story. Some are centuries old, while others are relatively new. Some are carrying rich history and some are showcasing the latest technology. But all of them remind me that a bridge is more than just a structure, it is a fusion of engineering and art. Above that, bridges feel like pathway of civilization which connecting people and places that help communities grow.

A Daydreamer's Journal

Tag Archives: travel

Jakarta Coffee Trip: Kemang

Brisbane Coffee Trip

Travelling Through Bridges