These days, coffee shops and cafes around me seem understaffed. Perhaps that has impacted the quality of cafes and coffee shops which have gone down drastically as well. I have to say that I miss the good old style of cafe and coffee shop where you can sit, drink from a nice cup, and be in it without worrying about anything. Unfortunately, the good old days might be gone for good. The only thing that’s decent for coffee and cafe shop culture lately is the distinction between slow bar and fast bar coffee shop.

If you’re going to a coffee shop just to socialize without expecting a good coffee experience, a fast bar seems to be an option. But if you enjoy drinking a good cup of coffee and aren't in a rush, a slow bar is an option. This trend is something I found here where coffee shops are turning into fast bars and at the same time, they don’t really care to serve the drink over a cup. They all now resorted to plastic. I thought we are all caring about the environment? Apparently instead of progressing, we’re all regressing over here.

So, it’s partly why I can’t really justify the cost and the need to go to a cafe/coffee shop anymore. Unless it’s really needed, I won’t be going because lately, I’ve been disappointed. It’s truly difficult to find a place that’s unique anymore and truly a hidden gem. It was way easier when I first started this journey about 3-4 years ago. Now, As I mentioned all over again, they all look the same and offer a similar taste of coffee. Somehow, I am also tired gambling with the ambience and atmosphere whenever I try a new place. When it comes to a slow bar, the only thing that excites me is trying new beans but even places like Hayati specialty coffee, I managed to taste half of their coffee offered.

Soda coffee seems to be a thing lately and I noticed that a lot of coffee shops offer that. It’s definitely not new but instead a specialty that usually is often flavored latte, these cafes and coffee shops go with soda coffee. Just like the cafe I visited a few weeks ago called “ leeren Coffee by Curio”

The place is indeed quite hidden and it’s great to work from. The chair isn’t comfortable but you can get there in an hour or two. It was occupying a colonial building decorated with Indonesian traditional cloth. The barista was exceptionally nice and didn’t really rush me to pick and choose. Unlike my recent experience where I was rushed and was made to choose stuff within what seemingly was 10 seconds.

I eventually ordered a mix-match drink that I think everyone should try. It was salted caramel with rum latte. I swear, the taste is heavenly. I also ordered a soda coffee for my 2nd cup. When I was expecting that it would come in a nice glass and/or a mug, it came in plastic. Somehow I was disappointed and I think it’s the decline of this F&B.

I must be quite spoiled because whenever I ordered cappuccino and latte, they used to look like the picture on the left (they are from my adventure from when I was in Laos) and now, the one on the right is just the regular latte that I am getting whenever I visit a coffee shop. Perhaps when I used to have something on the left, it makes everything look subpar to me. Even in the same style, the strokes and design on the left looks a lot more artistic. Mind you, the cafe in Laos at the time wasn't a fancy one. It was truly a hidden gem where the coffee is exceptionally good. And again, you can notice the difference between the two and how much effort was put into these cups.

So, instead of wasting my time and effort to go outside, these days if I want a specialty coffee or just trying something new, I would order it from the comfort of my room. Some of them have a really nice minimalist cup.

In fact, sometimes the price of these coffee can be cheaper because of these delivery orders. Since in the past the reason I went to the coffee shop was often to work, but now that I have an even more comfortable work space, it’s another reason I can’t justify the cost to go outside to gamble with the coffee taste and its ambience anymore.