At the counter or out on the street
At the counter you can watch the pouring kettles in use and see a circular chart of drinks and brewing methods, from espresso to pour-over. The pavement tables work well after a morning at the market, when you feel like watching Ubud go by. The café is in the centre, within walking distance of the palace and art market.
You may only notice one of Seniman’s best design details when you sit on it. The studio’s own Bar Roker pairs the seat of an everyday plastic chair with reclaimed teak to make a rocking chair. That eye for design carries through to the shop corner, with packaged coffee and pieces from the studio.
Finding a coffee you’ll like
If espresso is your usual order
Order the cup you usually drink and ask what’s in the grinder. A familiar preparation makes a new coffee easier to compare with the one you have at home. If it hits the spot, ask at the counter whether the same beans are available to take away.
If you’re curious about origins
Ask which origins are pouring on filter that day. If there are two of you, try different beans brewed the same way and swap cups. Seniman’s circle also helped develop Roda Rasa Kopi Indonesia, an Indonesian coffee flavour wheel. It gives you words for aromas you might otherwise describe simply as fruity or spicy.
Coffee shares the space with music. In the counter photograph you can make out record sleeves and bins labelled by genre. Tektonik Records lists recurring pop-ups at Seniman Ubud. If record shopping is the reason for your visit, check for the next date. On an ordinary café day you can also browse the packaged coffees for something to take home.
For a closer look at brewing
The Ubud studio also offers classes in espresso, milk and latte art, and manual brewing. For the last of these, you can focus on equipment you use at home, such as an AeroPress or Chemex. Sessions are offered in English and Indonesian. If you only have one morning to spare, check the date with the workshop team first.
