The Indonesian Inspiration for Building Foundation (YIIM) together with PT Insight Investments Management (INSIGHT) (INSIGHT) are always committed to supporting the strengthening of community independence through a series of inclusive and sustainable empowerment initiatives.

The concept of trading coffee with mobile carts in Jakarta has now become a new trend during the Covid-19 pandemic. Apart from being practical and not complicated, the drinks sold do not make consumers dig deep into their pockets. Like Bali Lore, the mobile coffee cart that usually operates in the Kramat area, Central Jakarta, always seems to be busy with young people.

The owner of Bali Lore, Bambang Purbowo, relies on manual brew techniques to produce a contemporary cup of coffee. Even with minimal capital, he is able to serve drinks that are no less interesting than mainstream cafes, such as palm sugar milk iced coffee, avocado iced coffee, hazelnut iced coffee and several trending non-coffee drinks.

Bambang’s story of becoming a coffee barista and owning a mobile coffee cart business is also very inspiring. The reason is, Bambang is a former prison prisoner, but he is trying to get up to support his beloved family. In the process, he collaborated with the Indonesian Building Inspiration Foundation to become a reliable barista by attending classes for about 2 months.

“Because of the pandemic, it’s hard to find work. I’m running a coffee business in this situation. I’m grateful that it doesn’t reduce interest even though it’s sold in carts,” said Bambang when met at his trading location, Central Jakarta, Friday (6/11).

Bambang admitted that he learned a lot after taking the barista class. From initially not knowing about coffee, he finally began to recognize the types of coffee beans, how to make them and even know the details of the taste of coffee. “So the barista really wanted to take part in training himself. He learned a lot, starting from how to make coffee manually, how to use a machine and getting to know the taste of coffee,” said the father of two children.

According to him, making coffee with manual brew is very easy. Bambang uses a mokapot to make espresso and deepens the v60 technique to make a glass of americano. Due to his tenacity, Bambang’s coffee cart is always flooded with customers. From children to adults enjoy enjoying Bambang’s coffee.

“Many people come to buy take away here or hang out while keeping their distance. They usually enjoy lattes, americanos, dalgona milo and so on,” he said.

Regarding price, Bambang sets the contemporary drinks he serves from the cheapest at IDR 5 thousand to IDR 10 thousand. It’s so affordable, Bambang can sell 200 cups a day with a turnover of IDR 1.3 million.

Meanwhile, representative of Insight Investments Management, Dwi Laksmi Anggitha Sari appreciated Bambang’s mobile coffee cart business. “Coffee is one of the products that people love, market demand is good. Coffee outlets are growing rapidly and we are providing training to create jobs with entrepreneurship in the coffee sector,” said the woman who is familiarly called Gita.

In providing training, Gita deliberately targets marginalized groups like Bambang. The training includes an introduction to the basics of coffee, how to make coffee up to the hospitality stage with reliable baristas. “We facilitate them so that they can develop themselves further and one new successful entrepreneur will hopefully become an inspiration for other participants,” he concluded.

Through this synergy and initiative, the Indonesian Inspiration for Building Foundation (YIIM) hopes that the programs implemented can provide real benefits, open up wider opportunities for independence for participants, and actively contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

*Inspiration Greetings!*