A Decent Coffee Break at Djournal

It didn’t take long for this coffee shop to be the new ‘it’ place for Jakarta’s urban. Not only it has a number of unique coffee and blended creations, but it is also placed at the heart of the town (Grand Indonesia) where dynamic people tend to roam around. Up to this moment, Djournal has expanded to 2 other malls, Summarecon Mall Serpong and Cilandak Town Square (Citos).  Each outlet has its own ‘theme’, like Star Wars theme in Citos and industrial atmosphere in Summarecon Mall. This time, I’m going to look into what the GI’s branch has in store.

The areas are divided into indoor and outdoor. A warm, breezy feeling greets my footsteps at the outdoor area; meanwhile a warmer atmosphere with garden theme will be my indoor companion. There’s a subtle vintage vibe resonating through wooden elements that dominate the furniture. Once in a while a sound of crowd chattering or laughing echoes throughout the room. Looks like most of them already cemented Djournal as ‘second house’ to them as either a place to work or hang out, or even both!

Not only two separated areas, Djournal also got two kinds of bar: Hand-brewed Bar and Espresso Bar. Hand-brewed Bar serves local coffee beans, for instance those that are originated from Toraja, Wamena, or Enrekang. You may choose between three different methods of brewing: siphon, pour over, and cold drip. Each method provides a brand new experience especially for coffee enthusiasts. Syphon tends to bring out a light and aromatic result, pour over for those who are fond of solid textured coffee, and cold drip for fans of black coffee for it provides low levels of sweetness and acidity.

Other interesting drinks that you surely don’t want to miss is the After Dark coffee category. Have any guess in mind? Yup, it’s a range of coffee creations that are fused with alcohol! Their creations including Kahlua Mudslide, Espresso Martini, and the best seller Bailer’s Cream, which has a foamy and creamy texture with a hint of hazelnut flavor. Sweet! 

Alcohol may sound a bit heavy for some; therefore Djournal also serves ice blended drinks for those who crave for something lighter at noon. Of course, they’re not any less unique. There are even several creations inspired by CAKES, such as Strawberry Shortcake and Liquid Choco Cake. It seems like Djournal refused to get behind the current Nutella ‘fever’ as well by showcasing one of their best seller signature drinks, Nutella Blast. Hmm, it was alright, I guess. It's not beyond the world good, and the flavor was a bit too faint for my liking, but still refreshing nonetheless. Djournal is mostly crowded during weekends, so be prepared to queue for a while before getting your seat.


(photos by: Hardiman Widjaseno)


Djournal Coffee
Grand Indonesia West Mall GF
Ph: 021 23581835
Opening hours: 08.00 — 24.00
Price: Rp 25.000,00 — Rp 75.000,00
Twitter: @DJOURNALcoffee