After its successful expansion to Indonesia in 2021, the Japanese specialty coffee brand, % Arabica, is expanding further into the country with the opening of its first store in Bali, the archipelago’s number one holiday destination. The first Bali store is set to open to the public on Saturday, 20 August 2022 at Beachwalk, Jalan Pantai Kuta, Bali.
% Arabica was founded by Kenneth Shoji, who became enthralled with the emerging coffee culture while studying at UCLA in the early 90’s. This was when coffee shops exploded onto the scene and brought a new appreciation of specialty coffee service, changing how we consume caffeine. Kenneth first started by training as a barista before taking it one step further and buying a coffee farm in Hawaii. Realizing his dream to open an international brand, % Arabica was born. To this day, Kenneth remains the creative mastermind and personally selects all the locations, designs the stores with his preferred partners, and cups hundreds of samples of coffees from farms all around the world to find the best beans to use in % Arabica’s specialty coffee drinks.
producing the world famous Kona Coffee
“Our mission is to grow the brand across unique lands and cultures all around the world. And Bali is, without a doubt, known internationally as a unique land with a beautiful culture. % Arabica Bali Kuta Beachwalk is our 122nd store in the world,” says Kenneth Shoji. “We hope we can ‘See the World Through Coffee’ by merging Bali’s culture with the % Arabica brand identity. We are thrilled to introduce our brand’s craftsmanship, our simple, timeless and delicious high-quality coffee, mindful service, and the Japanese sense of beauty to the Island of the Gods,” he continues.
The first Bali store is located at Beachwalk on Jalan Pantai Kuta in the island’s trendiest and busiest lifestyle destination. For its first foray into Indonesia’s top tourist destination, % Arabica once again entrusted high end Japanese interior and architectural design team, no.10 from NOMURA Co., Ltd., to create an opulent store. For the new store, designer Nao Kameda created a design that breathes Balinese air to the fullest. She used 122 Indonesia railroad ties to create the stage floor with integrated sofa seating arranged from front to back. The semi-circular kitchen counter is set against a huge mirror to create a big circle illusion, while the iconic % shaped Corian bench sits in the center of the store, complete with a giant Chemex pendant light with a rattan motif above it. The store also offers an outdoor seating area furnished with daybed-style seating so customers can enjoy % Arabica specialty coffee with an ocean view.
As a truly global brand, % Arabica is a staunch believer that the world’s resources should be preserved and sustainability practices be put in place. Bali Kuta Beachwalk is the first % Arabica store in the world to be plastic cup free. This global roll-out begins in Bali and soon every % Arabica store in the world will be plastic cup free. The brand aims to cultivate a more sustainable environment and a culture of responsible coffee lovers around the world.
% Arabica’s venture in Bali is the result of the brand’s continuing success in Jakarta under the management of Ateria Group. In just under one year, % Arabica and Ateria Group triumphantly opened three outlets in Indonesia’s capital at Central Park Mall, Astha District 8, and Plaza Indonesia, respectively. The Bali store is the biggest amongst them all, showing the public’s extraordinary response to % Arabica’s arrival in Indonesia.
% Arabica Bali Kuta Beachwalk intends to lead the way in the third-wave coffee movement in Bali. The store has its own Tornado King small-batch roasting machine that has become a staple piece of equipment in % Arabica’s stores worldwide. With the presence of a Tornado King in the store, trained baristas can help customers pick one of the best beans from all over the world and roast it in the machine on the spot according to the customer’s preference. Customers can then take home the freshly roasted coffee beans in % Arabica’s special packaging and merchandise.