True cafes offer relaxing ambience but beware...<\/p>\n
Joko E.H. Anwar, Contributor, Jakarta<\/p>\n
Shortly after coffee was first introduced to Europe early in
\nthe 1600's through the activities of the East India Company, word
\nabout the unique drink quickly spread across the continent.<\/p>\n
The first coffeehouse was opened in Italy in 1645 and was
\nimmediately followed by many others. By 1670, London had been
\nswept by the coffeehouse craze.<\/p>\n
It is hard to explain why these coffeehouses of those eras
\nsomehow had one thing in common; they became forums where free
\nspeeches were made. Many of these coffeehouses even published
\ntheir own newsletters.<\/p>\n
By the 18th century, coffeehouse sub-culture was very
\nestablished in England. Worried by the free speech nature of such
\nvenues, the authorities attempted to close down the coffeehouses,
\nto no avail.<\/p>\n
In 1802, the word "cafe" was adapted by the British from the
\nFrench word which means "coffee" or "coffeehouse".<\/p>\n
Two centuries later, cafe has become part of the daily
\nlanguage in many parts of the world, especially since chains such
\nas Starbucks Coffee can be found in almost every city on Earth.<\/p>\n
Regardless of their location, real cafes share a similar
\nexterior and interior design, mostly the vintage style of western
\nEurope.<\/p>\n
According to a London-based website on cafes,
\nwww.classiccafes.co.uk, the decor of such places in the 1950s and
\n1960s was the culmination of cafe designs and cafes which
\npreserved the design of so-called classic cafes.<\/p>\n
As many other types of eateries opened, the difference between
\ncafes and those places became blurred, especially outside of
\nEurope.However, a cafe can be recognized by its "third space"
\nfactor.<\/p>\n
The phrase, which was coined by the Starbucks folk means "an
\narea away from the distractions of home and office, somewhere for
\ncalculated repose and day dreaming: private yet social, discrete
\nyet visible. Somewhere to get away from the crowds and bustle".<\/p>\n
To many Jakartans, cafes have been places to escape the daily
\nroutine, either from work, school or home. In many low-lit
\nvenues, patrons can enjoy a relaxing atmosphere which is
\nmelancholic and liberating at the same time. This is unlikely to
\nbe found at other kinds of establishments, like nightclubs or
\nrestaurants -- provided you find the real deal.<\/p>\n
At cafes, food quality is important but not a determining
\nfactor. Interior design and lighting are crucial aspects, wherein
\na cafe can create the intended ambience with the appropriate
\nmusic.<\/p>\n
Most of the cafes in Jakarta are more like pubs or nightclubs
\nand feature loud live music which destroys any ambience it have
\nhad. They are far too loud and have no tranquility, for which the
\noriginal cafes were always meant to provide.<\/p>\n
Most of the time, when a Jakarta cafe becomes popular, it
\ntends to be filled beyond capacity. Some of the well-known
\nestablishments which put cafes in their title here are actually
\neons away from being a classic coffeehouse. They're overcrowded,
\noverpriced, loud, pretentious and one wonders what the response
\nwould be if you asked the bartender for a coffee.<\/p>\n
Fortunately, there are a few cafes in the capital which
\nactually do offer the original coffeehouse atmosphere. Cafes in
\nthe traditional sense should have a free-spirited, mellow
\natmosphere that attract people from various backgrounds. Again,
\nbecause it's private, yet social.<\/p>\n
Here, circles of friends can gather and when one circle
\ninteracts with another circle, a new circle is created.<\/p>\n
Cafes are also associated with a "hedonistic" lifestyle by our
\nmany close-minded brethren. Negative remarks and gossip of
\n"immoral behavior" are often voiced toward anyone who frequents a
\n"cafe", but of course to open-minded, educated people, nothing
\ncould be further from the truth, especially as it regards the
\nclassic coffeehouses.<\/p>\n
In advanced countries, cafes help create societies which are
\nclosely linked to music, writing, and other forms of art, like in
\nthe Soho area of London or its counterpart in Greenwich Village,
\nNew York.<\/p>\n
Our local cafes, have not achieved such maturity, but some
\nhave become classy places for aspiring musicians to try to get
\nnoticed.<\/p>\n
Many successful local bands started out as "cafe bands" which
\nis quite a prestigious attribute. Of course, not every place
\nwhich bears the word "cafe" should actually be considered the
\nreal thing, they should probably just change their name to pub.<\/p>\n
Perhaps the "third factor" is the best way to distinguish true
\ncafes from the loud, annoying pubs which use the name
\ninaccurately and have been springing up over the years.<\/p>\n
Particularly after the economic recession swept the country in
\n1998, there were more and more people who lost their company
\njobs, but had enough savings to put up a place with table and
\nchairs, a bar, some lighting and music, and viola! They think
\nthey own a "cafe". And young, unknowing Jakartans who go there
\nthink they are real coffeehouse trendsetters.<\/p>\n
Most of the time, just the word "cafe" connotes something to
\nlocal people as an attractive place -- which is good for
\nbusiness, but usually it is nothing more than a commoners eating
\nand drinking place. This is because the word "cafe" is associated
\nwith golden eras of the West and lifestyles which, to most
\nIndonesians is still considered luxurious, if not a bit
\nhedonistic.<\/p>\n
Although establishments with the word "cafe" can be found in
\nmany sections of the capital, Kemang in South Jakarta is well-
\nknown for its nice, classy cafes.<\/p>\n
Good cafes can be an oasis for those who feel tired of busy
\nlife in the city. Among the many fakes, there are a lot of real
\ncafes out there waiting to be discovered, so enjoy the experience
\nof discovering them for yourselves.<\/p>",
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