Changing Habits at Indonesian Coffee Shops Signal Weakening Purchasing Power
A new phenomenon is emerging in Indonesian coffee shops, known locally as warkop, where a number of customers are adjusting the food and drink menus they order. This trend is being viewed as a signal of weakening purchasing power among the public.
One warkop patron, Rifky, admitted to ordering instant noodles at the shop with an extra packet of noodles he had purchased at a Madura-style kiosk. He does this to curb his daily spending as the cost of other basic necessities has begun to rise. “I still buy coffee, and Indomie with an egg, but now I’m starting to economise just on the Indomie,” he told CNBC Indonesia on Wednesday (10/6/2026).
Another patron, Febri, explained that he has recently reduced his consumption of instant noodles. As a result, he rarely goes to the warkop. Previously, when buying instant noodles there, he was also tempted to order other items like coffee, iced tea, or even fried snacks. However, Febri now chooses to be more prudent with his money when visiting a warkop, buying only a single drink or food item. To simply eat instant noodles, he prefers cooking at home and only occasionally visits a warkop. “It’s to save budget and suppress expenses, so as not to be wasteful. There’s another reason, just to be healthier,” he explained.
In line with this, a warkop employee named Asep confirmed a slight change in customer behaviour, particularly among boarding house residents or at the end of the month before salaries are disbursed. At the start of the month, customers typically order according to their tastes, such as nasi goreng, magelangan, toasted bread, grilled banana, or instant noodles with egg accompanied by coffee or milk. The situation differs towards the end of the month, when most of them only buy a rice and egg dish priced at Rp 10,000 per portion. “Mostly, if they buy a single packet of Indomie, they don’t add an egg, but add rice, making it Rp 13,000,” Asep revealed.
Currently, some warkop customers have also started to rarely order instant noodles with egg. They more often order instant noodles with added plain rice. Despite this, Asep observes that coffee menu sales remain stable, as people have not yet been able to break their coffee consumption habit. “It’s usually busy after Maghrib prayers and earlier at 12 noon during lunch,” he said.
Another warkop employee, Iqbal, acknowledged a decline in turnover at the shop where he works. This is reflected in the number of visitors, which has started to decrease recently. Even for premium menus such as omelettes and mung bean porridge, sales are currently minimal. Moreover, the omelette is priced at Rp 15,000 amidst a rise in chicken egg prices, while a portion of mung bean porridge, previously priced at Rp 8,000, has now risen to Rp 10,000 due to the increase in mung bean prices at the market. Fortunately, sales of instant noodles and coffee at Iqbal’s warkop remain relatively stable. “This warkop is busiest after Maghrib prayers, around 6 pm onwards,” he stated. Iqbal also hopes that the prices of raw materials for his wares can stabilise again, so the warkop can once more serve menus at affordable prices for the community.
Another warkop business owner, Yuyun, admitted that sales at her stall have experienced a sharp decline. She even discussed the situation with other warkop owners and discovered that turnover has collapsed recently. Seeing her income reduced, Yuyun realised there is a decline in public purchasing power. As evidence, she often encounters customers who only want to cook their own instant noodles, meaning they bring the noodles from home. She also assesses that customers are now more frugal when spending at the warkop. Previously, people would buy coffee along with instant noodles and an egg, but now they only buy instant noodles or just a coffee. “At most, they just buy an iced coffee. Those buying Indomie have also become rare, especially during the daytime like this,” she explained. Besides the weakening of purchasing power, Yuyun is aware that egg prices in the market have increased, creating particular pressure on warkop operations, though she has not yet adjusted the selling prices of her food or drinks.