Arisarmu - Kopi Joss or charcoal coffee is a traditional drink from Yogyakarta, Indonesia which has been existed since 1970s and has become favorite among the locals and even been known to abroad.
David and I, we both are coffee lovers. Unlike his twin brother. He loves coffee so much. Probably he inherits me. When I was younger, I used to drink a lot of coffee, and I ever worked at a cafe in Ubud, Bali as a coffee maker where I brewed cappuccinos, lattes and the others by using an espresso machine. However, presently I like drinking white coffee better than black coffee. In my opinion, I am still a coffee lover, aren't I? The proof by listening David's story about Kopi Joss with its unique method to make it, I was interested to try it. Then I cheerfully followed what he desired to visit Angkringan Kopi Joss Yogyakarta.
Culinary tourism of "Angkringan Kopi Joss" is settled on Wongsodirjan Street, north of Tugu Railway Station (Yogyakarta Railway Station). There are approximately fifteen semi permanent food stalls that have become a social hub for many people in yogyakarta.
"Angkringan" is typical of a push cart (or a shoulder pole) that sells drinks and "Sego Kucing", Javanese words for cat's rice. It means a very small portion of main course (cat portion) with a rich variety of side dishes, such as chicken feet, chicken heads, egg satay, intestine satay, sausages, and many more. They are all at very cheap prices. A glass of coffee runs around IDR 5k (USD 0.35). The price of "Sego Kucing" is IDR 2k (USD 0.15), while side dish is between IDR 2.5k (USD 0.18) to IDR 3.5k (USD 0.25). The other unique characteristic of "Angkringan" is: Operates from dusk until dawn.
Culinary tourism of "Angkringan Kopi Joss" is settled on Wongsodirjan Street, north of Tugu Railway Station (Yogyakarta Railway Station). There are approximately fifteen semi permanent food stalls that have become a social hub for many people in yogyakarta.
"Angkringan" is typical of a push cart (or a shoulder pole) that sells drinks and "Sego Kucing", Javanese words for cat's rice. It means a very small portion of main course (cat portion) with a rich variety of side dishes, such as chicken feet, chicken heads, egg satay, intestine satay, sausages, and many more. They are all at very cheap prices. A glass of coffee runs around IDR 5k (USD 0.35). The price of "Sego Kucing" is IDR 2k (USD 0.15), while side dish is between IDR 2.5k (USD 0.18) to IDR 3.5k (USD 0.25). The other unique characteristic of "Angkringan" is: Operates from dusk until dawn.
"Kopi Joss" means a mixed between ground coffee and hot burning charcoal that create a sound "jossss", a name's given by customers to a special coffee which accidentally created by "lik Man" (a local person) in the year 1970s when he didn't feel well with his belly, he saw red hot burning charcoal which was being used to boil water in a kettle, then he took a piece of hot burning charcoal and dropped it into his coffee (we don't know what was in his mind at the moment). But miraculously, a few minutes after drinking it, his stomach felt better.
Presently, many people follow him by selling "Angkringan Kopi Joss". Although there has not been much scientific research done for "Kopi Joss". Many customers believe that charcoal can absorb and reduce caffeine in coffee and cure some belly problems.
For myself, drinking charcoal coffee, the taste is not much different with other ground robusta coffee. I just like the ambience of Javanese culture that still strong in Yogyakarta. Including along Wongsodirjan Street.
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| Hot burning charcoal |
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| Angkringan Kopi Joss |