Award-winning barista and founder of Expat. Roasters
Our training and support helps hundreds of venues and baristas deliver a better tasting coffee to coffee lovers across the island every day.
Tell us your story – how did you get here?
I fell in love with Bali many years ago when I first travelled here – I loved it so much, I decided to get married here in 2013. After our wedding, we continued to holiday on the island and I managed to start some consulting work here. One thing led to another and I soon moved here with my wife and young son to start Expat. Roasters – a specialty coffee roaster.
What accomplishment are you most proud of?
Since opening Expat. Roasters in 2016, we have had a huge amount of accomplishments including winning ‘Best Coffee Roaster in Indonesia’, ‘Farmers Choice Award’ for the best tasting all-Indonesian coffee across all coffee competitions, multiple nominations and recognitions for our brew bar in Seminyak, and awards in International coffee awards. All of this while using local Indonesian coffee grown from amazing farmers across this beautiful country. But honestly, the accomplishment that I am most proud of is being able to keep doors open to all venues and keep all staff employed throughout Covid. The work we did as a company for the community in this time was to keep people fed and caffeinated.
What impact have you made in Bali?
There are two defining parts to this question for me: industry and social. I believe we have played a huge part in driving the coffee industry forward in Bali by delivering international quality and standards. Our training and support helps hundreds of venues and baristas deliver a better tasting coffee to coffee lovers across the island every day. Our sustainability programs are also leading the way across Indonesia and are pushing other coffee roasters and wholesalers to lift their standards which is amazing for Bali. Charity has always been important to us, but throughout Covid my team have stepped up at the hardest time to deliver hundreds of sembako packages (food packages) and supplied thousands of coffees to be given out to those who needed it most.
What does the future look like for you?
2022 looks very positive. The team at Expat. Roasters have laid a strong platform for business growth in all areas and have a strong strategy to keep servicing the domestic market while international tourism starts to return again. Even if it is only a small percentage at first, we are excited to see Bali alive in all areas. Personally, I also want to keep exploring all the beautiful areas of Bali and the surrounding islands. We are so blessed to live here and need to keep exploring and keep reminding ourselves how lucky we are to have access to all these destinations.
What do you love most about Bali?
The feeling you get when you are here. The feeling of freedom, the sense of spirituality mixed with party vibes, nature blended with the feeling of economic growth and business opportunities. Living here I also spend time on the things that matter most to me: family, friends and business.
What makes the perfect drink, and why?
Big glass of water as soon as I wake and again right as I go to bed. But after and before that, first drink is always a piccolo from our Seminyak brew bar (then usually I have about four more throughout the day!). And my last drink would be something with bubbles after dinner – could be beer, soda water or Sprite, depending on the day.
Who is your Local Legend and why?
So many! But I have a lot of love and respect for a Bali hospitality legend and my brother, Dewa Wahyu Bintara. He looks at our industry in a holistic way and works on upskilling staff from a mindset first and a skill level second.