Going For A Coffee Under New Normal Rules in Indonesia

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com – Coffee aficionados keen to hit coffeehouses for a leisurely cup of joe can take heart, as cafes in Jakarta start to open their doors in the New Normal phase of the government’s struggle against Covid-19.

While café goers savor an espresso or latte, they are still subject to New Normal health protocols. Their procedures vary, with the one constant being the use of masks.

Acrylic barriers

Local coffee franchise Kopi Kenangan has pulled out all stops to safeguard their staff and customers alike. “We are erecting acrylic glass barriers to safeguard our customers and staff alike within one or two weeks,” said Kopi Kenangan CEO Edward Tirtanata.

“The barrier will limit direct interactions between our staff and customers. All baristas are required to use face shields, masks, and gloves. They will also use UV sterilizers typically used to clean baby items three times a day to make them bacteria free.”

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The barriers did not just go up between customers and baristas. “We also put up the acrylic glass between customers.”

If you sit at a table, an acrylic barrier stands between you and the person you share the table with,” said Edward of his franchise, which won coffee lovers over with their iced coffees.

“We will also open at 50-percent capacity to maintain social distancing protocols. That includes putting X’s on tables and chairs to indicate them as off limits.”

Going cashless

For rival franchise Kopi Kangen, New Normal does not mean new changes despite abiding by social distancing, 50 percent capacity and other rules.

“We did not have to rearrange seating or tables as we never had that many of them to begin with,” said Kopi Kangen owner William Heuw.

“Our concept has always been grab and go, so most of the seats are for customers taking away their drinks.”

The biggest change for Kopi Kangen is in payment methods. “We encourage our customers to use digital wallets and other cashless methods.”

Keeping distances

Craft coffee specialists Smoking Barrels have not permitted customers to enter their premises just yet. “We allow customers to buy our coffee from our outlets, but they must stay outside,” said Smoking Barrels co-founder Joni Lima

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“We list our coffee beans outside for them to order, including their place of origins, but that’s it. Usually customers would lift the beans and smell them, which will not be feasible due to health reasons. We hope to open our doors to customers next July, but we shall see.”

KULO Group’s Kopi Kulo coffeehouses limited the number of tables and then some. “Aside from limiting capacity to 50 percent, we also limit the number of people per table to two,” said KULO Group’s Brand Manager Raffi.

“The customers must prove that they live in the same house. If not, they cannot sit at the table.” Regardless of the changes, they do not take away the appeal of a good cup of coffee. 

(Writer: Syifa Nuri Khairunnisa/ Editor: Silvita Agmasari)

Source:

https://www.kompas.com/food/read/2020/06/16/091400975/new-normal-bagaimana-protokol-di-coffee-shop-jakarta-?page=all#page2.