Andanu Prasetyo

The President’s choice

ANDANU PRASETYO the 28-year-old entrepreneur behind one of the hippest coffeeshop chains in Jakarta. Toko Kopi Tuku’s main branch is located in Cipete, with other outlets at Pasar Santa and Bintaro. The Cipete branch has caused such a buzz that President Joko Widodo visited the cafe last July.

Long lines form each day for Tuku’s specialty of es kopi susu tetangga ( neighbour’s iced milk coffee), a mix of freshly brewed coffee, milk and sugar. “We source our coffee beans from Flores, Aceh and Bali,” says Jakarta-born Prasetyo, who is a graduate of Prasetiya Mulya Business School in Jakarta. Before launching Toko Kopi Tuku, Prasetyo opened Toodz House in Cipete at the age of 21.

“We started Tuku in a small space in Cipete in 2015, after I saw an opportunity in Indonesia’s coffee industry,” says Prasetyo. “I wanted to help raise Indonesia’s coffee consumption, so that our farmers would be encouraged to produce better beans and more people could appreciate local produce. From my observations for two years, most Indonesians like ice coffee with a bit of sweet taste, so we mix ours with gula aren ( liquid brown sugar). It’s working for us!

“I think it’s important to have strong character as an entrepreneur. My parents are constantly helping me to see the good and bad sides of myself. They encourage me to be a better person each day. As an entrepreneur, you have to think beyond business and profits. You have to realise that it is not always about the numbers. I don’t consider myself as successful right now. I am still young and this is the best time to learn and experience new things. Success for me is when I can make a positive impact on many people’s lives.”