“Even though I have limitations, I still want to move forward with the business I am currently running.”

These are the words spoken by Aries Andriyanto to keep up his spirit in advancing his business.

Aries Andriyanto (45 years old), or affectionately called Mas Aries, is one of the alumni of the social entrepreneurship barista coffee training batch 3 in 2021 organized by the Inspirasi Indonesia Membangun Foundation (YIIM) in collaboration with PT Pertamina Training and Consulting (PTC). This program is one of the flagship programs in community empowerment targeting underprivileged, pre-prosperous, and disabled communities. For additional information on the coffee barista training organized by YIIM and PTC, it can be accessed at Pertamina and YIIM Train Disabilities to Become Baristas.

Mas Aries is a father who currently lives with his wife and four children, and is also a person with physical disabilities. With the limitations he has, he does not give up on his circumstances. Mas Aries has participated in various activities, starting from joining various communities to building a coffee business that he has been interested in for a long time.

Limitations Are Not a Barrier

Various disability organizations that Mas Aries has currently joined to expand his network include joining the Persatuan Penyandang Fisik Disabilitas Indonesia (PPDFI) in 2006, the Indonesian Creative Disability Foundation (YDKI) in 2020, and the Indonesian Disability Association (PPDPI) Depok in 2020.

Not only organizations, Mas Aries also participated in various training programs, one of which was the social entrepreneurship barista coffee training organized by YIIM and PTC. Mas Aries joined this training because of his interest in coffee. Mas Aries was also very happy to have the opportunity to learn directly how to use various coffee equipment.

After participating in the training, Mas Aries had the opportunity to receive business assistance provided by YIIM and PTC. He utilized this assistance to build his business, namely “Warung Kopi Uhhuuy”.

Mas Aries’s coffee business, currently “Warung Kopi Uhhuuy”, continues to grow. The location of Mas Aries’s coffee shop is in Sawangan. There are various menus sold at Mas Aries’s coffee shop, including sachet coffee, americano, v60, tubruk coffee, iced palm sugar coffee, iced banana coffee, butterscotch, root beer, and hot coffee.

The packaging used by Mas Aries to sell coffee is paper cups for hot coffee and glasses with sizes of 12 oz and 14 oz which are sealed with a cup sealer for cold drinks. The average buyer of Mas Aries’s coffee shop is adults. The response given by consumers to the coffee drinks made by Mas Aries is quite good.

Wanting to pursue his business more seriously, Mas Aries’s coffee shop has now been registered as a Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (UMK) at the sub-district level. During his business operations, the monthly turnover Mas Aries earns is around Rp1,500,000 to Rp2,000,000. This income is used to support the lives of his wife and two children who are currently in first and fourth grade of elementary school.

Not stopping there, Mas Aries developed his business by collaborating with a friend with disabilities, namely Ngobat (Ngobrol Bareng Teman). The drinks sold by Mas Aries use coffee beans from Ngobat, because these coffee beans have complete documents and are also halal. The coffee beans used come from various regions such as Temanggung, Cibulao, and others. Ngobat products are the result of collaborations from the Disabilitas Bergerak activities.

After the training, Mas Aries also had the opportunity to become a speaker on RAS FM radio. The program, held every Saturday, discusses a person with disabilities who has a business and creativity. Mas Aries shared his experience story from the beginning of his business until now.

Never Stops Innovating

“It’s the name of the game nowadays, you have to find many paths.”

These words were spoken by Mas Aries to continue seeking the latest innovations in his business. Not only at his coffee shop, Mas Aries tried to expand his business by actively participating in bazaars. He has participated in various bazaars, such as the bazaar at Gedung Sate, Bandung; the bazaar at Depok Post Office 1 on Jalan Rambutan for five days with Ms. Nurul, one of the members of Ngobat; the ceremonial event bazaar at Evenciio Margonda apartment; and the bazaar at the Dekranasa Building of the Depok Mayor for three times a week on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays for two weeks. However, the bazaar at the Depok Mayor’s office is currently temporarily halted due to the pandemic, and there are no plans yet for when it will start again. These activities made Mas Aries even more enthusiastic about building his business.

During the bazaars, Mas Aries was assisted by his friend, Mr. Anto, who is also a disability companion, because he is the one who always provides information about the bazaars and is also active in UMKM Depok. In participating in the bazaar, he is grateful because he was facilitated by not having to pay for the booth, as Mas Aries is one of the entrepreneurs with disabilities. During the bazaars, Mas Aries was always helped by his wife. However, after the children finished school, Mas Aries invited other friends to join and work together.

Mas Aries’s enthusiasm is unstoppable. The next innovation created by Mas Aries and his friends with disabilities is selling from a motorcycle. The motorcycle used by him and his friends is a sidecar motorcycle belonging to his friend. Currently, it has been running for a week on the roadside outside the TNI Headquarters 2 main gate in Cilangkap. He and his friend start selling from 3 PM until night. In a day, Mas Aries sells about 10 cups of coffee.

As their thinking evolves, Mas Aries and his friend discussed and finally agreed to move their selling location to the Ciganjur area, at a place owned by his older sibling.

“Now I want to go back to the original place. God willing, my fortune is there. Because that’s where I received assistance from YIIM and PTC.”

The process of moving Mas Aries’s coffee shop currently involves taking the bar counter to Ciganjur. After moving to the Ciganjur area, Mas Aries plans to sell barista coffee at the morning market on Jalan Andara every Saturday and Sunday using the sidecar motorcycle.

“I try not to spend money on place rental. Sometimes, you know, for renting a place, I noticed that a rented place in Ciganjur, one year, is now closed. I try to find ways. So, I’m doing a profit-sharing system with my older sibling instead.”

Struggling to Nurture Hope

To run his business, Mas Aries is willing to live separately from his wife and two children who currently live in Cipayung. Various plans have also been set by Mas Aries to advance his business. Starting from wanting to sell various coffees while slowly educating about healthy coffee beans. Then Mas Aries wants to revive trendy drinks like thai tea, red velvet, and various foods. Mas Aries also wants to invite his family members who can play music to his business place.

Mas Aries wants to activate GoFood, which has changed its address, and wants to add his menu to his nephew’s Tokopedia account, who is currently selling food on Tokopedia. To facilitate transportation, Mas Aries is currently saving up to modify the sidecar motorcycle, estimated to cost Rp2,500,000.

Mas Aries hopes to continue developing his business in the future. Wherever there is an opportunity, he will definitely go for it. Because to seize opportunities, he must make various efforts such as participating in bazaars and also promoting through his friend’s YouTube channel.

Salam Inspirasi!