Indonesia's economy is like a cup of coffee, reflecting purchasing power and inflation

Yogyakarta, CNBC Indonesia – Chair of Commission XI of the DPR, M. Misbakhun, said Indonesia’s economy is like a cup of coffee with a long value chain from farmers to consumers. He also likened coffee beans to global trade, with milk and sugar representing inflation, and a barista’s wage standing in for local employment.

‘Macro economy is not merely numbers, but we have growth, inflation, history. So we have pressures but we must reassure that as we grip a cup of coffee, there is a mechanism turning there,’ Misbakhun said at Jogja Expo Center, Special Region of Yogyakarta, Saturday (23 May 2026).

He explained that coffee beans are like global trade consisting of fluctuations in the rupiah’s exchange rate and global supply chains that determine input prices. Sugar and milk as national inflation, which underscores that price stabilisation policies can influence production costs.

Finally, a barista’s wage is like local employment, a reflection of purchasing power and job creation in the real sector. According to him macroeconomics is not just numbers on paper, but a heartbeat that determines whether a cup of coffee costing Rp 35,000 today will remain affordable tomorrow.

‘Young people must understand how the economy is rolled out; millennials, Gen Z to baby boomers, can be united to move the economy. This becomes the power called purchasing power,’ he said.

‘Purchasing power, reflected in household consumption, becomes the biggest driver of Indonesia’s economy, and can reach 50%. With the demographic bonus currently, productive young people can become active drivers in their respective fields.’