Tourists looking for a wholesome coffee experience in Bali are in luck. Not only is Bali, and Indonesia more broadly, known to be home to some of the best coffee in the world, but now the island is home to a cafe that is going above and beyond for both customers and their staff.
Difel Cafe in Denpasar is a coffee shop like any other. The modern interior and great range of coffee tick all the right boxes from the get-go. There is something a little different about this Denpasar coffee shop in that the staff all have disabilities.
Around Indonesia, there is a big stigma around disabilities, and the opportunities for folks with additional needs and different ways of moving through in the world are often limited.
Difel Café can be found on Graha Nawasena, Jalan Kamboja No. 4, Denpasar, and was established in 2023 thanks to the support of Pertamina Patra Niaga Fuel Terminal Sanggaran.
The cafe is a creative economic empowerment program, and the name DIFEL (Difabel) Café is inspired by the Denpasar City Friends of Disabilities community, who workshopped the whole concept and creation of the project in partnership with the Pertamina community-social responsibility program.
Difel Cafe barista, Nyoman Juniartha, who is also the Chairman of the Gantari Jaya Joint Business Group (KUBE), told reporters, “Despite our limitations, we can still work and show the public that we are capable.”
The cafe initiative is also a collaborative effort between Denpasar City Social Services Agency, the Dompet Sosial Madani Bali Foundation, and ARTne Coffee Tabanan. Pertamina then provides the members with six months of professional barista training, complete equipment, raw materials, and uniforms.
Juniartha added, “The name Difel comes from diff-ability, meaning that despite limitations, we can still do anything.”
Difel Cafe itself has been opened in a building donated by the Department of Social Affairs. Its placement in the heart of Denpasar is no mistake; surrounded by schools and universities, the cafe now has a loyal customer base of many high school and college students.
Ayu, another of Difel Cafe’s baristas, shared his experience with reporters. At 53 years old, the new job has given him a whole new set of options for his life that he had previously felt were out of reach. He shared, “I used to be just a massage therapist. But now I can be a barista. Pertamina gave me a second chance to work. Even though I’m in my 50s, it’s never too late to learn.”
He concluded, “I used to think my life was stuck. But it turns out, coffee gave me another chance to dream,”
Yudha also shared his experience in his new role with reporters. He is now a proud deaf barista who is skilled at creating a range of different coffee blends for his happy customers. Yudha shared, “It took us six months to learn. Now I can serve coffee with confidence. My message to my friends with disabilities: don’t be shy, don’t be afraid. We can do it!”
The coffee menu at Difel Cafe is a real treat. The cafe serves up classic espresso-based coffees and all the trending hot beverages too. The Vietnamese drip coffee is not to be missed, and the matcha options are getting rave reviews. Difel Cafe is proving to be a success with a daily turnover of between IDR 750,000 and IDR 2 million, and as word gets out, the sky is the limit for these inspiring baristas.
The Area Manager of Communication, Relations & CSR of Pertamina Patra Niaga Jatimbalinus, Ahad Rahedi, told reporters, “Pertamina believes every individual has potential. Through Difel Café, we want to create a space for equality and decent work opportunities, while also supporting the achievement of the SDGs, particularly reducing inequality and inclusive economic growth.”
Difel Coffee is a great place to stop off on a day trip to explore Denpasar’s cultural wonders and heritage hotspots, including Gajah Mada Market and Bajra Sandhi Monument, which is a quick 6-minute drive from Difel Cafe, which is listed on Google Maps as ‘Difel Cafe Gantari Jaya’.
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