Harlan + Holden, a fashion and coffee shop brand from the Philippines, has just opened their third location in Jakarta at Plaza Indonesia.
The new store opened just yesterday, after the first boutique and coffee shop at Pacific Place and the boutique-only branch at Plaza Senayan, which have been around for a couple of years.
Located on the second floor of Plaza Indonesia, I stumbled upon the new store/coffee shop during a trip to the mall. Having heard quite a bit of buzz about the franchise, I decided to stop by.
I was told by the barista that I had to download the Harlan + Holden app first before ordering, from which cashless payment through GoPay or credit card can be made. It can certainly be a hassle for those who are in a hurry, and while the store provided wifi, it wasn’t quite speedy enough for an instant download.
At Harlan + Holden, you can choose your bean preference, namely light, medium, and dark roasts, as well as decaf. You can also customize your drinks with add-ons such as coffee jelly and sea salt cream, or opt for almond or oat milk at additional costs.
I chose medium roast for all of the drinks I ordered, which were Iced Campfire Coffee (IDR60,000), Iced Sea Salt Latte (IDR53,000), and hot cappuccino (IDR40,000). All prices mentioned are regular prices, and I was lucky enough to come during a big promo period, during which I only had to pay IDR25,000 for each drink.
There were also light bites such as banana bread, brownies, cookies, pies, and cinnamon coffee braid, but I didn’t order any food to go with my coffee because I was already stuffed from all the caffeine. Maybe next time.
Iced Campfire Coffee is described as “espresso and thick, rich and luscious double chocolate drink topped with toasted vanilla marshmallow creme.” It was way bitter than I expected at first sip, but as I scooped the charred marshmallow creme bit by bit into the drink, it gradually became sweeter. If you like mocha, then this is the drink for you.
Next, the Iced Sea Salt Latte is a brown sugar latte topped with a sea salt cream. I was really surprised that I ended up liking this drink a lot, because I’m more of an unsweetened iced latte kind of gal. You should drink this without a straw so you can taste the salty cream top and the coffee, which has a light sweetness. It’s good to have a sip of this as a pick-me-up drink during hotter days.
Lastly, I had the hot cap in line with my habit to try basic menu items whenever I go to new coffee shops. The medium blend had a nutty or toffee taste to me, and I personally think it’s not too strong and too much on the milky side.
Harlan + Holden makes for a nice spot for all sorts of caffeine-accompanied social occasions. It’s also a great café for those who are into experimental coffee drinks — as long as you have their app installed on your phone.
FIND IT
Harlan + Holden Plaza Indonesia
Plaza Indonesia 2nd floor
Opening hours: 10am-9pm, daily
Transit: MRT or TransJakarta Bundaran HI
US$1=IDR14,314
