True cafes offer relaxing ambience but beware...

True cafes offer relaxing ambience but beware...

Joko E.H. Anwar, Contributor, Jakarta

Shortly after coffee was first introduced to Europe early in
the 1600's through the activities of the East India Company, word
about the unique drink quickly spread across the continent.

The first coffeehouse was opened in Italy in 1645 and was
immediately followed by many others. By 1670, London had been
swept by the coffeehouse craze.

It is hard to explain why these coffeehouses of those eras
somehow had one thing in common; they became forums where free
speeches were made. Many of these coffeehouses even published
their own newsletters.

By the 18th century, coffeehouse sub-culture was very
established in England. Worried by the free speech nature of such
venues, the authorities attempted to close down the coffeehouses,
to no avail.

In 1802, the word "cafe" was adapted by the British from the
French word which means "coffee" or "coffeehouse".

Two centuries later, cafe has become part of the daily
language in many parts of the world, especially since chains such
as Starbucks Coffee can be found in almost every city on Earth.

Regardless of their location, real cafes share a similar
exterior and interior design, mostly the vintage style of western
Europe.

According to a London-based website on cafes,
www.classiccafes.co.uk, the decor of such places in the 1950s and
1960s was the culmination of cafe designs and cafes which
preserved the design of so-called classic cafes.

As many other types of eateries opened, the difference between
cafes and those places became blurred, especially outside of
Europe.However, a cafe can be recognized by its "third space"
factor.

The phrase, which was coined by the Starbucks folk means "an
area away from the distractions of home and office, somewhere for
calculated repose and day dreaming: private yet social, discrete
yet visible. Somewhere to get away from the crowds and bustle".

To many Jakartans, cafes have been places to escape the daily
routine, either from work, school or home. In many low-lit
venues, patrons can enjoy a relaxing atmosphere which is
melancholic and liberating at the same time. This is unlikely to
be found at other kinds of establishments, like nightclubs or
restaurants -- provided you find the real deal.

At cafes, food quality is important but not a determining
factor. Interior design and lighting are crucial aspects, wherein
a cafe can create the intended ambience with the appropriate
music.

Most of the cafes in Jakarta are more like pubs or nightclubs
and feature loud live music which destroys any ambience it have
had. They are far too loud and have no tranquility, for which the
original cafes were always meant to provide.

Most of the time, when a Jakarta cafe becomes popular, it
tends to be filled beyond capacity. Some of the well-known
establishments which put cafes in their title here are actually
eons away from being a classic coffeehouse. They're overcrowded,
overpriced, loud, pretentious and one wonders what the response
would be if you asked the bartender for a coffee.

Fortunately, there are a few cafes in the capital which
actually do offer the original coffeehouse atmosphere. Cafes in
the traditional sense should have a free-spirited, mellow
atmosphere that attract people from various backgrounds. Again,
because it's private, yet social.

Here, circles of friends can gather and when one circle
interacts with another circle, a new circle is created.

Cafes are also associated with a "hedonistic" lifestyle by our
many close-minded brethren. Negative remarks and gossip of
"immoral behavior" are often voiced toward anyone who frequents a
"cafe", but of course to open-minded, educated people, nothing
could be further from the truth, especially as it regards the
classic coffeehouses.

In advanced countries, cafes help create societies which are
closely linked to music, writing, and other forms of art, like in
the Soho area of London or its counterpart in Greenwich Village,
New York.

Our local cafes, have not achieved such maturity, but some
have become classy places for aspiring musicians to try to get
noticed.

Many successful local bands started out as "cafe bands" which
is quite a prestigious attribute. Of course, not every place
which bears the word "cafe" should actually be considered the
real thing, they should probably just change their name to pub.

Perhaps the "third factor" is the best way to distinguish true
cafes from the loud, annoying pubs which use the name
inaccurately and have been springing up over the years.

Particularly after the economic recession swept the country in
1998, there were more and more people who lost their company
jobs, but had enough savings to put up a place with table and
chairs, a bar, some lighting and music, and viola! They think
they own a "cafe". And young, unknowing Jakartans who go there
think they are real coffeehouse trendsetters.

Most of the time, just the word "cafe" connotes something to
local people as an attractive place -- which is good for
business, but usually it is nothing more than a commoners eating
and drinking place. This is because the word "cafe" is associated
with golden eras of the West and lifestyles which, to most
Indonesians is still considered luxurious, if not a bit
hedonistic.

Although establishments with the word "cafe" can be found in
many sections of the capital, Kemang in South Jakarta is well-
known for its nice, classy cafes.

Good cafes can be an oasis for those who feel tired of busy
life in the city. Among the many fakes, there are a lot of real
cafes out there waiting to be discovered, so enjoy the experience
of discovering them for yourselves.