Javaheads and latte-holics rejoice! We hunted down Bali's best coffee spots for your daily caffeine hit - strong, locally-sourced, and everything in-between!
If the struggle is oh-so real to get through each day without your morning coffee fix, we hear you. But luckily for our fellow coffee-holics, Indonesia is home to some of the best beans around, and Bali is fast becoming Asia’s coffee capital, with straight-up strong espressos from award-winning baristas, to three-quarter double shot lattes with organic beans from Aceh. So, to help you curb your coffee cravings with a really good (and we mean REALLY good) caffeine hit, we’ve hunted down the very best coffee spots in Bali – the best brew bars and coffee-serving cafes across the island, from Seminyak and Ubud, to Canggu and Uluwatu. You’re welcome!
THE BEST COFFEE IN CANGGU
1. Blacklist Coffee Roasters
So much more than just a specialty coffee shop, Blacklist Coffee Roasters in Canggu is where you can sip and sample your way through an entire coffee tasting experience. Yep, you read that right: a degustation of different brews and blends that take you on a flavourful coffee journey. You’ll try the special-edition Canggu Blend, as well as the specialty Pitch Blend – a full-bodied coffee with dark chocolate and nut flavours, balanced with prominent fruity notes. But that’s not all. This multi award-winning coffee roastery is a leading name in Australian Specialty Coffee, and after making their second home here in Bali, they’ve brought this stellar reputation to the island. The secret to their success? An abiding passion for good coffee, good food and good times – the perfect recipe for building a cool, caffeinated community. Swing by for delish brekkie and lunch plates, then come back for signature cocktails, craft beers and premium wines too.
Blacklist Coffee Roasters, Jl Tanah Barak No. 6, Canggu, p. +62 813 3872 8664; Open daily 7am – 8pm.
2. BGS Bali
Word on the street is, BGS serves the best Almond Milk Latte on the island – and after knocking back hundreds (if not thousands) of these thick, creamy and vanilla-roasted cups of gold, we can confirm this big coffee claim. You won’t wanna just grab-and-go either, because BGS is also where you’ll find friendly faces in a community-driven space that also sells all of your surf essentials, from boards and fins, to wax, tees and bikinis too. Just don’t be surprised if you’re still propping up the bar ’til late, buzzing off their brilliant brews and discussing the morning’s surf report with locals, resident expats, and even their Bali dogs. Psst – for more BGS brews, check out their flagship store in Dreamland and Uluwatu too.
BGS Bali, Canggu: Jl Munduk Catu No. 1 | Dreamland: Jl Raya Uluwatu No77x | Uluwatu: Jl Labuansait | p. +62 878 6181 3103, e. [email protected]
3. Hungry Bird
A temple of coffee enthusiasm, Hungry Bird is a real-life coffee fairytale. The owner, a young Indonesian guy called Edo, used to roast beans in his bedroom when he fixed – with his bare hands – a broken coffee machine that he bought online. Self-taught and quite literally self-made, he then opened Hungry Bird, previously a teeny tiny hole-in-the-wall style coffee shop. Eventually, it became uber-popular with the local surfers (the breakfasts were the most affordable around) with the coffee as the real kicker. Edo kept his clientele well-and-truly hooked with beans from all over Indonesia, and now, as one of the most popular spots in the ‘Gu, Hungry Bird sits in a proud new location right beside the famous Canggu shortcut, complete with its own micro-roaster and cupping room. A great reward for true passion.
Hungry Bird, Jl Raya Semat No. 86, Canggu, e. [email protected]; Open daily 8am – 5pm.
4. RUKO Cafe
Everyone knows that any hip Canggu resident wouldn’t be seen dead sipping on a conventional, run-of-the-mill coffee brand. So RUKO Cafe in Berawa custom-makes its own Indonesian blend for the perfect cup of strong, bittersweet magic. And the cups themselves are a work of art, too, artisan-made by a local ceramics artist. In fact, everything in this cool neighbourhood coffee shop screams creativity: the hip urban vibe, the sketch books on the tables, murals on the walls (inside and out), and a cool crowd that keeps you sticking around for one, two, or maybe even three more premium piccolos.
RUKO Cafe, Jl Pantai Berawa No. 99, Canggu, p. +62 812 396 3077; Open daily 7.30am – 4pm.
5. Satu-Satu Coffee Company
Satu-Satu in Berawa opened in honour of the Sudana family, who are well-known in Bali for producing some of the island’s finest quality coffee since 1985. They have family-owned coffee plantations in Lawak, Belok, Sidan, Petang and Badung, and have always focused on producing coffee the natural way. They use only traditional Balinese methods to ensure the highest level of organic coffee, and to guarantee superior freshness and flavour. In fact, the coffee here is so esteemed, the Government of Indonesia actually provided the Sudana family with machinery and equipment to help facilitate its growth and expansion, including the opening of Satu-Satu cafe in Berawa, where you can sip on these legendary, government-approved brews!
Satu-Satu Coffee Company, Jl Raya Pantai Berawa No. 36, Canggu, p. +62 878 6207 7011; Open daily 7.30am – 4pm.
6. Bootstrap Cold Brew Coffee
Apparently, cold brew is the fastest-growing coffee trend in the world, which suits us just fine considering Bali’s balmy climate. And there’s one island brewer that’s been one step ahead of the rest, because Bootstrap began brewing quality cold brew coffee in Bali back in 2014, and it’s so good, it’s now bottled up and sold to other top spots across the island – including Singapore, too. Using Kintamani Single Origin Arabica beans, the cold-brewed result is a low-acid, high-caffeine coffee that’s both smooth and refreshing. Not only that, it’s sugar-free, dairy-free, healthy and organic – because this is Canggu after all.
Bootstrap Cold Brew Coffee, Jl Tumbak Bayuh, Pererenan, Canggu, p. +62 812 3848 9121, e. [email protected]; Available for delivery.
7. Cafe Vida
This boutique espresso bar in Canggu is always positively pumping from dawn until dusk, filled with coffee aficionados and good-food fiends sipping on expert brews and wholesome bites throughout the day. Set within a traditional Balinese compound, with a cute tropical courtyard and the scent of great coffee all around, Cafe Vida specialises in sourcing quality, local and organic beans. They make their own blend of espresso coffee – locally roasted and brewed – alongside an Ethiopian Single Origin and Bulletproof’s espresso blend with grass-fed butter and raw coconut oil. Heck, they even have a whole list of herbal lattes for when you’re going caffeine-free, from healthy matcha and chai lattes, to the red velvet beetroot cacao latte. Delish.
Cafe Vida, Jl Pantai Batu Bolong No. 38A, Canggu, p. +62 813 3988 6864; Open daily 7am – 10.30pm.
8. Ritual Coffee & Eatery (temporarily closed)
Epic coffee, a cosy work space and homemade brekkie and lunch dishes – Ritual Coffee & Eatery has become an all-day staple for a top-notch caffeine kick. Its uber-special blend of high quality beans from Sumatra, Flores, Bali and even Brazil have been specifically hand-picked for Ritual and roasted manually (not in bulk) – and the result is pretty darn spesh. With hints of almond, sugarcane and milk chocolate, Ritual’s coffee is best enjoyed with their signature Pancake Stack. And if you’re in the mood for an afternoon pick-me-up, they even serve an ice blended Liquor Frappe, with double espresso, a shot of Baileys and stracciatella ice cream. YUM.
Ritual Coffee & Eatery, Jl Pantai Berawa No. 24, Berawa, Canggu, p. +62 821 440 80118, e. [email protected]
THE BEST COFFEE IN SEMINYAK
1. Expat. Roasters
Taking Bali’s coffee-sipping scene to revolutionary new heights, Expat. Roasters is one of the coolest coffee shops on the Seminyak block, and it’s not your average island cafe. Brought to us by International award-winning Barista, Shae Macnamara Expat. Roasters takes its caffeinated clientele on an exploratory ‘from-the-ground-up’ journey, to understand the complex flavours of the Expat blend – one cup at a time. This urban and funky little spot is making waves on the island as the place for coffee, and you won’t want to miss a slice of their freshly baked banana bread, either.
Expat. Roasters, Jl Petitenget No. 1A, Seminyak, p. +62 812 4614 0493; Open daily 6.30am – 7pm.
2. Revolver Espresso
Arguably one of the first specialty cafes in Seminyak to kick-start Bali’s coffee craze, Revolver is the OG when it comes to boutique bean brands and expert espressos. This tardis of a café, tucked down a little laneway in downtown Seminyak, makes seriously good cuppas, with interiors that take you back to 1980s New York. The vibe is inner-city cool and you could very easily forget you’re in Bali with its slightly grungy warehouse feel. Unsurprisingly so, other Bali cafes have jumped on the Revolver bandwagon, meaning you can find these specialty brews in hip cafes like Watercress and Milk & Madu. And psst – they have Baby Revs on Petitienget, too, and Revolver Nights where you can sip one of our forever-fave Espresso Martinis.
Revolver Espresso, Jl Kayu Aya Gang 51, Oberoi, Seminyak, p. +62 851 0088 4968; Open daily from 7am.
3. Coffee Cartel
With a name like Coffee Cartel, it’s no surprise that this boutique coffee house in Seminyak means serious business when it comes to your daily cuppa. These top dogs are dominating Petitenget’s caffeine scene with their unique latte art seen on Instagram feeds around the world. Using their specialist Ripple Machine and using patented printing technology, Coffee Cartel can recreate any image or text right on top of your cappuccino or latte foam. In fact, Coffee Cartel has become such a cool cult cafe, they’ve opened a second location in Legian, which is where they roast their very own blends using both local and imported beans. And just like the Seminyak location, in Legian you’ll find Coffee Cartel’s signature pink interiors, dotted with cute potted cacti, subtle Mexican aesthetics and adorbs golden cutlery. Love!
Coffee Cartel, Jl Lebak Sari No. 8, Petitenget, p. +62 812 3707 4458; Open daily 7.30am – 6pm.
4. Pison Coffee
What looks like a humble red brick café from the outside, is a serious specialty coffee house inside, complete with live music in the evenings and an addictive-as-caffeine Asian-Western fusion menu that mixes the best of Indonesia with stylish Sydney. Think house-roasted beans from Sumatra, mixed with Australia’s avocado craze, and voila, you have one of Pison’s signatures: The Espresso Avocado; a creamy yet coffee-licious tipple that keeps us coming back again and again. But it’s also the classics that Pison does best. Try the Affogato, the cappuccino, and the signature single origin Sumatra Bluebatak – slightly sweet and syrupy yet with a serious coffee kick. Oh, and if you get a chance between brews, chat with Pison’s friendly owner, Arlini Wibowo, who’ll happily share plenty of coffee insight and awesome stories to accompany your afternoon cuppa.
Pison Coffee, Jl Petitenget No. 19, Seminyak, p. +62 821 4456 0066, e. [email protected]; Open daily from 7am.
5. Titik Temu Coffee
Sitting on one of Seminyak’s most buzzing urban strips, you’d never know that inside Titik Temu sits a lush, tropical garden designed for sipping top-notch brews in a traditional, community-style setting. You see, Titik Temu is bringing back the age-old experience of a localised Warung Kopi – a traditional coffee stall with long tables for catching up with neighbours, and space on the ground where workers would sit and refresh before another shift. Well, Titik Temu has brought back that laid-back, nostalgic atmosphere, bringing it into the twenty-first century with a more modern setting, serving top-quality food and coffee. All of your favourite coffee names can be found here, and they’re served up just how you like it – hot, cold, long or even extra strong.
Titik Temu Coffee, Jl Kayu Cendana No. 1, Seminyak, p. +62 811 158 3003; Open daily 8am – 9pm.
6. The Koop Roaster & Cafe
Paying homage to local creators in Bali, The Koop in Seminyak is a roaster and cafe that’s all about extremely fresh and home-roasted specialty grade beans from farms in Kintamani. They share their love of Bali in the best way possible: through quality, handcrafted coffee and homemade bites. They roast and brew their own coffee, they bake their own bread and cakes, and most importantly, they’re a humble, homely and comfortable cafe for people to get together over really great cuppa. All of their coffee is brewed in a semi-automatic roaster, ranging from paper drip and flannel drip, to Aeropress and cold press – all handcrafted cup-by-cup with love by The Koop’s baristas.
The Koop Roaster & Cafe, Jl Drupadi No. 66, Seminyak, p. +62 361 934 7987, e. [email protected]; Open daily 8am – 4pm.
7. Djournal Coffee
Djournal Coffee came to Bali from Jakarta and Bandung (there are more than 20 Djournal addresses in Indonesia!) and this nationwide brand is all about bringing you a great cup of coffee using Indonesian-origin beans. With a whole collection of artisan brews ranging from espresso based coffees, to pour over, syphon and even cold drip, Djournal is a coffee-sipping Nirvana, overlooking an emerald green rice paddy to top it all off. And if you’re not into caffeine, there’s plenty more on the menu, like the cold-as-ice Nutella Blast, or the Green Tea Freeze, best paired with Djournal’s famous Eggs Benedict Batavia.
Djournal Coffee, Jl Petitenget (next to Ibis Styles Hotel), Seminyak, p. +62 361 934 6363, e. [email protected]; Open daily 10am – 8pm.
THE BEST COFFEE IN UBUD
1. Seniman Coffee Studio
All your coffee Christmases come at once when you visit Seniman Coffee Studio. Located just off the main drag in Ubud, this place is an absolute mecca for coffee lovers. Not only an awesome cafe with world-class beans from all over Indonesia, Africa, South and Central America, there is also an on-site micro-roastery, a brew bar, a shop with every piece of coffee equipment you could possibly wish for, and tasting workshops at the studio on how to home-brew, roast, make the perfect espresso, and even a 101 on latte art.
Seniman Coffee Studio, Jl Sriwedari No. 5, Ubud, p. +62 812 8338 6641, e. [email protected]; Open daily 7.30am – 10pm.
2. FREAK Coffee
Wholly dedicated to Bali-born beans, FREAK stands for Fresh Roasted ‘Enak’ Arabica from Kintamani. Enak means delicious in Indonesian, and this coffee really is yum. It is all organically grown and roasted daily so it’s about as fresh as it gets. The result? A sweeter, less bitter and much, much richer brew. And it’s certainly no accident, either. They use the best equipment around (like Rancilio espresso machines and Mazzer grinders for all the gadget geeks out there) and most importantly, they verse their baristas in the craft of espresso – a tradition to be learned, practiced and honoured. Amen to that!
FREAK Coffee, Jl Hanoman No.19, Ubud, p. +62 361 975 927, e. [email protected]
3. Anomali Coffee
If you’re in the market to road-test some really great Indonesian coffee blends, then you need to make a pit-stop at the very funky Anomali Coffee. At their Ubud address, you can sip on beans from Papua, Java, Sumatra, and even a good-old local Balinese Kintamani roast, with expert baristas and regular training sessions on-hand to get your coffee sipping up to scratch. Not only that, the espresso machines are top notch, too, pumping out strong and creamy cappuccinos on the regular, as well as a cold drip, French press, plunger, and the very snazzy syphon coffee.
Anomali Coffee, Jl Raya Ubud No. 88, Ubud, p. +62 361 972 263 / +62 811 392 2212; Open daily 7am – 10pm.
4. Ubud Coffee Roastery
Ubud Coffee Roastery is a casual cafe where the Ubud crowds go for the daily caffeine fix. The fine beans are locally sourced from coffee plantations in the breezy Kintamani. They are then roasted right at the cafe’s garden and brewed to perfection. Loving Ubud Coffee Roastery’s classic cuppa? Lucky for you, you can nab yourself a bag of beans to take home!
Ubud Coffee Roastery, Jl Goutama Selatan, Ubud, p. +62 361 971 490, e. [email protected]; Open daily 9am – 5pm.
5. Pubas Coffee
Cool interior, industrial decor, this modern cafe at the heart of Ubud is a fave amongst residents and travellers alike, when it comes to great coffee. Pubas coffee is where you go to relax, work or get some serious caffeine hit. You can get all the classics here, like piccolo, long black or cappuccino, best enjoyed with buttery croissants and danish. For the adventurous bunch, try one of the creative brews, like the Pubas Iced Coffee with chocolate, caramel and a hint of salt, or the Misty Tarz – a single shot of espresso with mint, casava, a scoop of ice cream and a sprinkle of salt. Best part is, you can stop by at night for an Espresso Martini or two…
Pubas Coffee, Jl Sri Wedari, Tegallantang, Ubud, p. +62 812 4643 1232; Open daily 8am – 10pm.
THE BEST COFFEE IN THE BUKIT
1. Drifter Surf Shop & Cafe
Though Drifter’s flagship location is in Seminyak, Uluwatu is a more natural home for this surf-shop-cum-coffee-haven. It’s a laid-back oasis to chill out, kick back, and to appreciate the surf-inspired clothing, the large library of hand-selected books, the artwork, the surfboards, the myriad of memorabilia, and of course, the freshly ground coffee that goes just right with a post-surf feed. Brewing Indonesia’s finest Mandaling Estate coffee beans from Sumatra (famous for their unique flavour thanks to the volcanic soil and humid jungle climate) the Drifter baristas know just how to handle these beans, served in the coolest surf-inspired ceramics we’ve ever seen.
Drifter Surf Shop & Cafe, Jl Labuan Sait No. 52, Uluwatu, p. +62 877 7755 0001, e. [email protected]; Open daily 7am – 10pm.
2. Suka Espresso
Coffee fanatics flock to this little Bukit gem thanks to its long-standing rep for serving one of the best brews in the Bukit – not to mention its epic menu of wholesome cafe munch. But back to the coffee. They source their beans in small batches from Indonesia and South America for the perfect cuppa joe, served up in the humble surrounds of this breezy, tropi-cool Australian-style cafe, and best enjoyed alongside those scrummy brunch staples (the avo on toast here is our fave, which comes with slow-roasted balsamic cherry tomatoes). Yup, for any coffee or food fix in the Bukit, Suka Espresso is a must-try stop-off – open in Ubud too!
Suka Espresso, Jl Labuansait, Badung, p. +62 812 4652 7605; Open daily 7.30am – 9.30pm.
3. JinjeRoot Coffee
A lesser known caffeine pitstop, JinjeRoot Coffee is tucked away on the main hill to Uluwatu, with just a few seats in the house and a modest collection of handmade leather goods. But it’s behind the bar where you’ll want to direct your attention. Strong and seriously good, the coffee here is the best around – made with love and served alongside some of the best croissants we’ve found. Top tip: if there’s no space to sit down, ask for takeaway (it comes in a recycled milk carton!) and enjoy your creamy latte or strong espresso at the nearby GWK Cultural Park instead.
JinjeRoot Coffee, Jl Raya Uluwatu No. 4, Ungasan, p. +62 812 3793 0026; Open daily 7.45am – 5pm.
Whether you’re an espresso sipper, a cappuccino guzzler or you simply love the smell of freshly brewed beans, consider your caffeine cravings – fixed!
