Louie Coffee, helmed by Louise Leny Lihar—who is also a semi-finalist of the 2015 Indonesia Barista Championship—has reopened its café at Pondok Pinang with a refreshed look. Inspired by the thoughtful aesthetics of tea houses she came across in China, Louise wants to bring the same level of care to the café experience, from the interiors down to the offerings. She has also reworked much of the menu, introducing more Western-style dishes while experimenting with coffee and tea creations.
“I opened Louie in 2016 with no branding or anything. The place was always well-maintained, but I realised it also felt outdated. This time, I wanted to approach every aspect more intentionally,” said Louise.
Carrying this renewed direction into the cup, the drinks menu offers visitors a range of beverages suited to different moods. Louie’s signature coffee, brewed with Arabica beans, spans refreshing cuppas such as Espresso Tonic to the tea-infused Osmanthus Latte, inspired by the rich tea culture that Leny enjoyed in China. The house blend—60% washed from Gunung Tilu and 40% natural from Ciwangi—strikes the balance Louise seeks: neither too strong nor acidic, just right in between.
In addition to the coffee, Louise’s approach of serving what she would happily enjoy herself is reflected in her emphasis on homemade creations. Small bites include Parmesan fries made in-house, while the Brioche Royale combines pillowy brioche French toast with butter-cooked tangerine and homemade strawberry compote.
Completing the café’s new chapter is the refreshed space itself. Putting her interior design background into practice, Louise reshaped the café into a setting defined by natural materials and tactile contrasts. From natural stone accents and hand-built tables to the charred wood pillars adorning the coffee bar, these details hone her focus on creating a space where design and coffee share the same sense of craft.