A simple stop for coffee turned into an encounter with an inspiring story.
As I was about to buy a coffee after work, I noticed a small cart by the roadside near my apartment. The very affordable prices immediately caught my attention, ranging from just Rp8,000 to Rp10,000. I also had the chance to chat with the woman behind the cart, whose name is Ika.
She is now known as a cart coffee vendor around the apartment complex in Pondok Bambu, East Jakarta. From that brief conversation, I discovered an inspiring story of courage in facing life’s changes.
Ika has been working in this profession for the past eight months. Beforehand, she was employed as a golf caddie in the Pulomas area. However, a dispute that eventually led to bankruptcy forced her to give up that job.
“The golf business was already bankrupt since there was a dispute,” Ika admitted frankly. Despite the hardship, she chose to get back on her feet and try her luck selling cart coffee under the Kopi Sejuta Jiwa brand.
Her daily routine begins at six in the morning. She goes to the Kopi Sejuta Jiwa office to collect her cart, check her stock, organise the equipment, fill the ice boxes, and then sets off to serve customers around the neighbourhood.
She usually finishes work by five in the afternoon. If her coffee sells out earlier, Ika can choose to refill if there is time, or return home, provided she is back at the office by 5 PM.
When I asked why she had chosen this particular spot to sell coffee, her answer was simple: because it is close to her home.
“My house is just behind the apartment complex. So I already know the people here. It’s safe,” she said with a smile. This sense of familiarity with the community makes her work more comfortable.
In terms of income, Ika admitted that it can be tight. Her wages are paid weekly.
“Alhamdulillah, it’s just about enough. Not always, but I make do,” she said.
Yet compared with her previous work as a caddie, she feels far more at ease now. The hours are more flexible, and she can choose her own days off—usually four in a month.
Of course, the job comes with its own challenges. The scorching sun and sudden rain are obstacles she faces almost daily. But beyond that, there are many enjoyable aspects. “I love meeting customers and getting to know so many people. Alhamdulillah, it’s fun, comfortable, and I’ve made lots of friends,” Ika said enthusiastically.
Speaking with Ika made me realise that every profession has its own story and its own sense of pride. From the golf course to the city streets, she shows that adversity does not prevent someone from rising again. In her new profession, Ika has finally found both comfort and renewed purpose.