It was a crowded Saturday afternoon when I decided to visit Plaza Senayan, a shopping mall located in the elite district of Senayan for a very late lunch. I was there after a long-haul, 2 hour drive from Sentul, a quiet suburb located between Jakarta and Bogor. So, after indulging in my lunch, I decided to go and spend some time in a coffee shop in order to avoid my family’s shopping spree. Again. LOL! ^^

I decided to have my coffee fix at Monolog, a coffee shop located in the parking lot of Plaza Senayan. It occupies what I would describe as a sheltered space specifically designed for Monolog and its sister restaurant, De Luca. Monolog occupies a section, while De Luca occupies the other.

Monolog is quite uniquely designed in my opinion. Since the space it occupies is rectangular in shape, it is set up like a strip. Monolog is mainly divided into four areas: seating, cake display, coffee bar and kitchen. When you go to Monolog from Plaza Senayan, you’ll first encounter the seating area, then the cake display & drinks preparation area, coffee bar and kitchen respectively.

The design of this coffee shop is dominated by wood. When Getting inside Monolog, it is like getting into a warm, cozy wooden hall. The walls are decorated with wooden articles. Most of the furniture including tables, seats and cabinets are made of wood. Even the espresso machines were given touches of wood here and there. In short, it is one heck of a woody place!

I don’t remember the brands of espresso machines that Monolog is using. What I remember is that there are two espresso machines in the coffee bar; one is a semi-automatic, while the other is a manual, lever-operated espresso machine. I think this is quite unique since almost all the coffee shops that I visited in Jakarta do not have, let alone operate this type of machine.

The coffee served in this establishment is generally above the standard. I do believe that they have their own blend. However, I’m not sure whether they roast it themselves or not. As far as I can tell, they are not selling roasted beans, at least not in this coffee shop. The last time I tried their espresso, it was quite good. It has medium body and medium acidity. It tends to taste like citrus and caramel in my opinion.

One of the must-have coffee drinks in Monolog is the cappuccino. In my opinion, this is one of the best places to have a cup of cappuccino in Jakarta. The espresso is extracted perfectly, minimalizing bitter, burnt flavors, while the milk is steamed to the right temperature, blessing the cappuccino with its natural milky sweetness while pampering the mouth with its smooth, velvety and creamy texture. A pleasureable cup of coffee indeed! I have to say though, this time, my cappuccino is not as good as it used to be. I hope that it will never happen again.

For those who prefers drinking hot coffee drinks other than the classics, I recommend that you try a Hazelnut White Mocha. It’s unique because actual hazelnut meal is added to the drink, lending this drink extra texture and an authentic hazelnut flavor. Since I didn’t taste any traces of chocolate, I think it’s safe to assume that the chocolate in this mocha drink comes from unsweetened white chocolate powder. I’m not sure of the last ingredient though, because I’ve never encountered such ingredients.

Monolog offers a large selection of food, ranging from the humble madeleine to a fried chicken meal. However, the highlight of this cafe is its range of all-day breakfast. I personally didn’t get to try their food, but by reading their menu, I’m pretty sure that they serve a mean breakfast. Don’t forget to check out their seasonal menus, especially Christmas. They have very interesting seasonal offers which include a Christmas-themed roast chicken and a chocolate-caramel drink concoction that will leave you in awe… I mean, the amount of effort in making this drink deserves a thumbs up in my opinion. Just imagine drinking hot chocolate topped with caramel whipped cream, CHOCOLATE-COVERED SALT, and maybe some other ingredients that I don’t remember.

The service offered in this coffee shop is usually okay, however, this time I’m not really impressed because my cappuccino arrived on my table after around 20 minutes multiple status checks with the staff. The coffee is also not as good. It tastes burnt and bitter. I also noticed that my usual barista is not making my drinks, which means that the current barista is not as skillful, therefore resulting in an inferior-tasting drink.

In conclusion, Monolog is a great coffee shop with very tempting breakfast menus, unique drinks and a nice atmosphere. However, the skill difference among the baristas can be felt through the sometimes inconsistent coffee drinks. Nevertheless, Monolog is still considered by many, including myself, as one of the best places to enjoy coffee in Jakarta. It serves as an inspiration for many baristas and its cappuccino became a benchmark for many, including myself… Salud! ^^