Brookland Coffee sits inside a creative complex in South Jakarta, but on a Saturday morning the first thing you notice isn’t the building. It’s the crowd. Outside, where cars might park, long benches, fiberboard blocks, and stools are packed with cyclists. The bike rack is heavy with frames, helmets slung from handlebars, and every seat is taken by young men in every imaginable cyclist get up: long sleeves, short shorts, flat shoes, cycling caps. It feels more like a clubhouse than a café.

Step inside and the air shifts. The interior space is air-conditioned, designed for a slower pace. Women and small groups fill the tables, a couple with laptops plugged in, conversation moving quietly. Near the bar, seating is tighter but every spot is full. The walls carry illustrations of all sorts, surrounded by a clutter of merch, mostly nylon foldable tote bags in a streetwear style. It’s casual but intentional, part of the café’s personality rather than a curated gallery statement.

There is a specific kind of gravity that comes with unboxing a La Marzocco. Even in its smallest form factor to date, the Linea Micra carries the weight of its heritage. At roughly 220,000 pesos on the Yardstick Coffee website, it sits about 100,000 pesos cheaper than its big brother, the Linea Mini. It is, for all intents and purposes, a “mini of the mini.” But don’t let the footprint fool you: this is still very much a hand-built Italian sports car designed for your kitchen counter.

Finally made it out to a friend of ours’ cafe, makerscafeph in QC, just off of EDSA. As it’s the cafe in the lobby of a church, the cafe is very spacious and there’s lots of parking in the basement on a weekday afternoon.

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Orange espresso has become an afternoon favorite of ours, and we’re pleasantly surprised to have fresh orange juice squeezed on the spot. The drink hit the spot, and if you’re looking for a cafe that’s quiet and you can hide out in, this one is a pretty good pick.