% Arabica Jakarta Roastery — Restaurant in Jakarta

As a fan of % Arabica's exquisite coffee, I was excited to visit their Jakarta Roastery branch. However, my experience at this particular location left much to be desired.

Let's start with the positives: the coffee at % Arabica Jakarta Roastery is as consistent and delicious as ever. Each cup is crafted with precision and care, ensuring that every sip is a flavorful experience. Additionally, the food offered is decent, providing a satisfactory accompaniment to the main event – the coffee.

However, my visit took a turn for the worse due to the unsafe conditions of the premises. The stairs leading up and down in the establishment were both slippery and uneven, posing a serious hazard to customers. Unfortunately, I learned this the hard way when I slipped and fell.

Despite the mishap, the response from the crew was lacking. While they provided me with water, there was a noticeable lack of concern for my well-being. I expected more empathy and assistance given the circumstances, but unfortunately, it was not forthcoming.

In light of this experience, I would caution others against visiting this particular % Arabica branch. While the coffee may be top-notch, the safety hazards and lack of adequate response from the staff overshadow the overall experience. If you're craving % Arabica coffee, I would recommend visiting one of their other branches where you can enjoy your coffee without the...

For a Japanese café, it’s ironic and disappointing that % Arabica Jakarta Roastery refuses to accept Indonesia’s legal tender — cash. In Japan, cash is still widely respected and accepted everywhere from small cafés to big stores. Yet here, they’ve abandoned that cultural value and gone cashless-only in a city where many remain unbanked.

The only notice is a small sign at the cashier, so you only discover this after arriving and queueing. What if your card fails due to technical issues, network downtime, or a blocked transaction? You’d be stuck, embarrassed, and leaving without your coffee.

This policy is unethical because it excludes customers without cards or e-wallets and limits payment freedom. Even though this is a standalone branch with no mall dependency, the policy still forces people to walk away after making the effort to visit — something a welcoming café should never do.

It’s also against Indonesian law — Bank Indonesia Regulation No. 7/14/PBI/2005 and Law No. 7 of 2011 on Currency state that rupiah is legal tender in Indonesia, and businesses must accept it for transactions within the country. Refusing cash is not only unfair but also violates these regulations.

A business — especially one with Japanese roots — should uphold inclusivity and convenience, not make it harder for...

This is the only % Arabica outlet in Jakarta that is located outside a mall with its roastery. From the exterior, this Japanese coffee chain is very aesthetic. Not only the exterior, the interior with wooden chocolate and white colors makes this place looks simple yet aesthetic and elegant.

The first floor is where we could order and pay for the foods and drink, where they display the pastries along with the merchandises. The roastery is on the first floor as well, whereas the second floor is the dine in area. The coolest thing on the second floor is the long white table with a direct view to the roastery 😍

% Arabica provides variants of coffee, started from the green beans, ready to drink, matcha, lemonade, and soft cream.

FYI, their house blend is good and safe for the stomach with its low acidity 😊

This time, I didn't have coffee. Instead, I had an 8oz Hot Matcha Latte (IDR 53,000). It can also be served over ice. They didn't add any sugar to it, but this creamy matcha latte had a great flavor and wasn't bitter at all. A calming and warm drink to refresh your mind while enjoying the beautiful...