3 AM

(now playing: Fletch - Tiga Pagi)

There's something different about consistently doing something. What I'm feeling now is the absence of fatigue and complaints towards doing what we believe is right, what we believe is good, and what aligns with the purpose of our lives.

This morning, I'm still at the kopi merah putih, doing my usual routine every day. Consistently doing it and prioritizing it over other activities. It's been a whole day without sleep. But there's something strange right now when I, who should be sleeping, can't seem to close my eyes and keep thinking about something exciting that I need to do and express. Maybe this is what they call passion from the concept of ikigai, or maybe this is just a stage of adulthood as I'm now 23. I'm really enjoying it.

Fletch's song titled Tiga Pagi perfectly describes how I feel right now. The meaning of the song about 3 AM, which is related to the spiritual aspect in Islam called tahajud prayer. Maybe this is the same thing I'm feeling about brain regeneration in one night when the whole world is silent. Sometimes we reconsider life and its purpose.

Perfect Morning

(now playing: the beatles - norwegian wood)

It's been two months since Kopi Merah Putih (merput) in Depok kicked off. After diving into the coffee world during my college days in Bandung, I unexpectedly continued my career journey in F&B here (who would've thought?!). Seizing the moment, perhaps... Turns out, pursuing a bachelor's degree in IT doesn't guarantee sticking to the same field for a career. Plus, here my aim is just to fill spare time before pursuing a master's degree at the University of Indonesia in Environmental Science, conveniently in the same city as my home, Depok.

This morning is totally different from the usual mornings at merput depok. I used to sleep alone on the second floor and wake up maybe in the afternoon if someone took turns to manage the merput. If not, I usually close up in the wee hours after the last customers leave to recharge for the morning reopening, like today.

Starting the day by freshening up, cleaning merput, and playing (they long to be) Close to You - Carpenters with the door barely cracked open so it won't seem fully open to passersby. Yet, a few customers immediately walk in and order coffee. They're not just customers; they're office workers, students, and families. About five people take turns ordering our signature drinks: palm sugar milk coffee and Americano to kickstart their day before diving into their activities.

The expectations for merput depok exceeded our targets, and it happened super fast. It's become a daily routine, and I feel a strong sense of ownership among customers and locals. Creating coffee products that resonate with the target market and making the shop an inclusive hangout spot for anyone with affordable prices and a cozy ambiance.

This is quite a different morning from the usual now that the merput has gained some recognition and has become a daily ritual for anyone starting their day and knowing about it. Have a productive day, everyone!