Hello there! This is my first post, so please bear with me if there are some mistakes. I’m super excited and thankful that I can finally start writing! So, let’s get on to business. About two weeks ago on a Saturday night, I found myself wandering around Grand Indonesia after a brief meeting with a friend. Not wanting to interfere with my family’s shopping spree, I decided to stop by Djournal Coffee for some pastries and eventually coffee…

One of Ismaya Group’s latest endeavor, Djournal Coffee is definitely one of the more well-designed coffee shops in Grand Indonesia, if not Jakarta. It occupies a big chunk of space near one of the entrances of Grand Indonesia’s West Mall with an outdoor seating. I think that this is a very kind gesture by Ismaya, allowing smokers to enjoy their coffee with their cigarettes while giving non-smokers an atmosphere free from smoke (unless they choose to sit outside).

The indoor seating itself is divided into two areas. The first area is located in front of the espresso & snacks bar, while the other area occupies the space between the first two areas mentioned before. I won’t go further into the details of the design since I’ve got no pictures of it. However, I will explain more about the heart and soul of that coffee shop, which is their serving bar.

The bar is divided into three. The first two are meant for espresso brewing and pastries section, while the other one is dedicated to manual brewing. The espresso bar is equipped with La Marzocco Mistral, one of the most expensive espresso machines that I know. In this shop, they made this machine stand out by showcasing the water pump with some lights and a glass INSIDE the bar for everyone to see. There are a couple of baristas preparing drinks, while the others are busy accompanying customers in the pick-up counter, taking orders, preparing pastries, etc. Standard stuff.

The pastries offered in Djournal are quite unique. From the menu, it can be seen that Djournal is trying to infuse some Asian influences into the food served here, most notably in pastries. The most notable examples are the beef rendang puff pastry and my go-to pastry, a Srikaya-slathered butter croissant. The kaya is decadent and rich with an attractive amber-golden color, while the croissant shell is fluffy yet crispy. It is all topped off with a dusting of powdered sugar. A perfect accompaniment to a cup of unsweetened cappuccino or even an Americano in my opinion.

The cappuccino now is much better than it used to be. When I first tried their cappuccino, the foam is stiff and dry. However, this time the coffee is quite good. The foam is wet and creamy, and I can still see some of the golden crown. It was nothing fancy. It was not decorated with any latte art, but I think that it will suffice for now. The flavor profile of the cappuccino is similar to Starbucks. In my opinion, it tastes like vanilla and nuts.

While the flavor of the cappuccino is okay and the presentation is acceptable, the size of the drink itself troubles me. The cappuccino came in generous portions, the 12oz being the smallest I believe. For people who are used to consuming large amounts of coffee, I think it will be acceptable. However, as I’m not able to consume much coffee, I end up not finishing my coffee. Maybe if they come up with a smaller size, it will be better since not everyone is able to drink that much coffee.

I’m not a big fan of ice blended drinks (especially ice blended coffee drinks), since I don’t like the inconsistent texture and flavor left over after sipping halfway through the drink. However, for those who haven’t tried Djournal’s blended drinks, I encourage you to try it. It is one of the most decadent and well-made blended drinks I’ve ever had. This is due to the addition of Gelato in their blended drinks. Lending the drinks more consistent texture and also enhancing the flavor of the drinks.

For chocolate lovers, I recommend going for the “Liquid Chocolate Cake”. It is a combination of chocolate gelato and chocolate cake that is blended to perfection. I can’t confirm of other chocolate elements besides the ones I mentioned. All you need to know is that I love intense chocolate flavors when it comes to drinking chocolates and this particular drink seems to fulfill that requirement.

For those who prefer lighter and fresher flavors, try out the “Strawberry Cheesecake”. This drink resembles the flavors you get when eating a creamy, cookie-crusted, strawberry cheesecake. It is a nice change to coffee and chocolate.

In conclusion, my experience in Djournal Coffee has been quite pleasant. It is a nice place to spend time with friends or just being alone, waiting for time to pass by. It offers many seating preferences and has quite a nice ambiance to it. Besides that, Djournal Coffee also provides its customers with coffee education, showing customers parts of a functional coffee machine and types of manual brewing options as well as coffee beans from different parts of Indonesia. It is a great place for beginners to start their journey to the vast and exciting world of coffee… Salud! ^^

Djournal Coffee