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Alun Evans

Male

Kuala Lumpur,

Malaysia

Profile Information:

What is your position in the coffee industry?: coffee shop owner, coffee roaster, coffee grower, home barista, industry professional, service tech/repair, supplier
Where are you located? ( City and Country ): With the new year upon us, its time to announce a few changes! I am splitting myself into 3 and will be spending not too much time in Indonesia in 2009 as we have 2 off-shore projects that I will be looking after pretty much full time. So... depending on the IP address I am either in Singapore, New Zealand or relaxing somewhat in Indonesia!!
How many years have you been in the industry?: 15+
If you are a barista or shop, are you interested in a barista exchange with another coffee shop/barista?: yes
Tell us more about your coffee shop or barista skills.: A coffee roaster (with 11 cafes+3 roasteries) located in a pioneering region of the specialty coffee world- and one located so close to so many unique and famous origins. Experience with a huge number of Indonesian origins- travelled all over North and West Sumatra, Java, Bali (tough that one!), Sumbawa, Sumba, Flores, East and West Timor, Papua, Sulawesi and Kalimantan (Borneo). Working with direct, sustainable trade with small holders all over Indonesia. A number of challenges that mean you will never have a dull day, hour, minute...or even second!!

These days our cafe and roasting businesses are spread between Jakarta, Indonesia; Hong Kong, China and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
What cities or countries are you interested in traveling to?: Europe (any), USA (lived in Colorado for a while back in 89/90 love going back), Africa- especially South Africa,Botswana (thanks Alexander Mcall Smith!) Kenya, Rwanda, Ethiopia and Yemen. Always enjoy trips back to New Zealand: especially to home town Wellington. Always enjoy my trips to Italy- want to work on my Italian and also Spanish for some future plans ;p
About Me:: Fulfilling a lifelong, caffeine fuelled passion; I have been working full-time with Indonesian Coffee since 2004. With my wife Arlini, Merdeka Coffee is determined to develop and showcase Indonesian Arabica coffees here and overseas. Merdeka Coffee conducts frequent tours around coffee growing areas, as well as running various education programs. From late 2008 my focus is actually on project work outside Indonesia- the company is being run by a team of well trained local management.

The company works with a number of small-hold growers around Indonesia. I drink 15 espresso shots a day and can be contacted day or night! (explains why I am on soooo much at such odd hours!)
About My Company:: Merdeka Coffee (or "Freedom Coffee" in Indonesian) is a boutique coffee company dedicated to the sourcing, selection and roasting of the best Indonesian coffees. "Kemerdekaan atau mati..."Freedom or Die" was the battle call of the Soekarno led independence movement in the 1940s. Our clients are individuals, institutions and wholesalers who share our vision for exceptional coffee obtained through fair & equitable local trade relationships.

At Merdeka Coffee we believe in developing partnerships with small hold growers and farmers, both at plantation and village level. This is why we use "merdeka"...freedom for the farmers we work with. A percentage of our profits are shared with our Indonesian partners in order for them to develop their communities, their coffee expertise and to assist them promote environmental conservation.

Our retail arm is "Antipodean Coffee" with outlets in Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur. We have plans for openings in Penang, Bangalore and hopefully Abu Dhabi over the next 18 months. We retail in Sydney through Merdeka Coffee in the CBD
What is your favorite thing about the coffee industry?: Dynamic change, working with a huge range of talented, interesting and knowlegeable people. The spontaneous nature of the business.
Website:: http://www.antipodeancoffee.com

Comment Wall:

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Cherry

Hi Alun,
Thanks for the comment.My first visting city maybe Melbourne, Perth or Adelaide,i am considering .

Dec 19, 2008
cafe sweets

so nice for reading your infomation.

are you living in newzland?

Dec 20, 2008
cafe sweets

i am so sorry , you are living in Indonesia.

do you have your own coffee growth farm?

Dec 20, 2008
cafe sweets

your web is so nice

Dec 20, 2008
OK Coffee Penguin

Thanks for the advice and the invitation, Alun. Being different than most penguins, that is to say, being made of inorganic materials, tropical heat has rarely been a problem for me. Therefore, I would very much like to visit you in Indonesia.

Should you ever find yourself in the Southeastern United States, drop me a line and let's do lunch. I know of a great seafood joint.

Dec 20, 2008
cafe sweets

thank you so much for your reply.

i am so sorry , our media target is main china, so we do not make english version.

i would like to help you to expending your prodution in main china.

i will planning to write somthing about you , your farm in our magazine and website.

Dec 20, 2008
Steve MacDowall

'You Canadians are everywhere' - that's nice to hear, it's seems when our dollar is low we get a lot visiting here from all over the US, but only in the summer months. - Steve

Dec 21, 2008
Cafeist

Hello Alun Evans, it is a pleasure to meet you here. Thank you for the comment at Kopi Luwak video:)

Have a wonderful day.

Cafeist

This cup is for you:)

Dec 21, 2008
Cafeist

I almost forget, my wife is Canadian (Calgary) We met in Indonesia in 1998. So I guess Steve MacDowall is right when he said 'You Canadians are everywhere', lol.

The last time I was in Makassar, in 2003. I worked with local government in tourism development board.

Yeah I agree with you about seafood in Makassar and Manado (haven´t been in Manado actually) ... But I love rica-rica:)

All the best
Cafeist

Dec 21, 2008
Abdul aziz Villena

Great sets of pictures...Hows kofi luak? we do have same thing in phil which you can find in cavite and batangas.
Hope this finds you well...

Dec 21, 2008
shirley chua

Hello Alun Evans Great to hear from you. Where did you get the book? Sending you my warm regards from the cool city of Shangahai, China where i am having my vacation right now. MERRY CHRISTMAS & A HAPPY PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR to come!!!

Dec 22, 2008
cafe sweets

i have to study english toughly
or, you learn chinese from me?

Dec 22, 2008
cafe sweets

a good information of "Obama 2008 Blend"

Dec 22, 2008
Abbas

Hi Alun
I have the first coffee outlet in Menara Imperium. we have plans to open atleast 4 in 2009.I am in the process of developing the standard operating manual for the coffee house. Would appreciate any suggestions

Dec 23, 2008
Abbas

Great you have realistic ambitioous plan for the coming year.We have our own permanent supplier from Sumatra. They work for us.Have to see the operational aspect to answer the brand of the machine. Pretty hopeful about the success of this new venture

Dec 23, 2008
angela he

you have a bery good memory!!
Yes, I go to visit Equip hotel in Paris.

You are old members here? I see you have many friends:)

Dec 23, 2008
BeanMeUp

Hi Alun, great to hear from you. The best wished for you also!
We will be visiting Brunei (Bandar Seri Begawan) as my sister lives there. Her husband works for Shell so that's why.
We are planning to visit view nature parks in Brunei's part of Borneo and afterwards move on to a unknown destination. We had Sarawak in our mind but we don't know if the nature will provide any addition to what we will have seen in Brunei. I haven't got any experience in that region so it will be all new to me.

I got a few basic ingredients for the trip: visiting my sister, visiting forest extensivly preferable walking and boat trip, and coffee...padang would be cool. If you have any advise that would be cool...for example should I book hotels or buy tickets in advance from Brunei to Padang?

Sorry for all these questions..I am just very excited going there ;-)

Dec 23, 2008
cafe sweets

your farm? i like coffee farm. i have a costa rica family, they have a really beautiful farm
www.cafedonramon.com

Dec 23, 2008
Andrew Peters

Hi Alun

Yes - I am looking after social media for the Geek Terminal Singapore :-) it is a new role !!! Nice to meet you.

Dec 23, 2008
Andrew Peters

best way to contact me is on my mobile +65 9451 9012

Dec 24, 2008
Cafeist

Oh my... Rendang! I almost foget that is exists, I love that too! Hopefully I would go visit Indonesia in 2010, looking forward to drop by at your cafe in Bogor :)

Dropping by wishing you to have magical holiday! Merry Christmas!

All the best.
Iggy

Dec 24, 2008
Ed Ishida

Hi Alun, sure, Auckland AND Wellington.. I wanna know all New Zealand for coffee or not.. lol..

Merry Xmas and a happy 2009...

Dec 24, 2008
cafe sweets

圣诞快乐！！！

Dec 25, 2008
Cherry

Thanks for your suggestions, i will consider.

Dec 25, 2008
polo

hi, i'm living in Jakarta but also in Erope. I import coffee from indonesia, in holland.

Dec 27, 2008
polo

bit all. mainly toraja and lintong

Dec 27, 2008
Rich Westerfield

All we know is Cowher isn't going to Cleveland. He probably wants to stay near the east coast as long as his kids are in school/college. Maybe the Jets?

Dec 29, 2008
bintang

seminyak......semarang isn't already to open a new outlet but I believe that one day people in semarang need much coffee shop.... I must be a part of it......

Jan 1, 2009
Mo Hautala

Ah, greetings indeed. I must agree with you that it is beautiful country in the WY/CO area. It sounds like you have quite the great set up, maybe I too will be fortunate enough to visit someday... Happy roasting!

Jan 1, 2009
asih

salam kenal pak ^_^
saya baru tau web ini kira-kira tiga hari yang lalu..
Saya dulu bersekolah di UI Depok, beberapa kali ke Bogor..
Kangen banget dengan roti unyil...

Jan 2, 2009
katsuyuki

Hi Alun,

I am sorry ! My dog is a Japanese dingo as SHIBAINU. She is also my shadow, anytime, anywhere she is with me.

Are you in Indonesia or where you are ?

katsu

Jan 4, 2009
katsuyuki

Wooow!

I am in Tokyo, Japan . I try to open espresso bar in here as soon as I can.

katsu

Jan 4, 2009
Lindsay Macdonald

It is our logo, local artist (Nancy Cawdry) french die on silk. Montana is great and the powder skiing is even better.

Jan 6, 2009
Cherry

Happy new year!
I decided to go to Melbourne, i hope that could find a work in the coffe shop at there.
God bless me!!^o^

Jan 7, 2009
teresa pilarz

Happy New Year Alun and thanks for the note! Sounds like you're busy traveling to more exotic destinations so I can't blame you for putting off Michigan. No doubt you would have enjoyed visits with family, but Detroit's just not that fab of a destination (no offense to anyone...I'm allowed b/c I've lived in MI my whole life!) Perhaps by the time you come, with any luck, I'll have my cafe opened.

Enjoyed browsing all your new pictures. Love the pastries (my weakness), and the one with all your pigeon friends! Visit my page in the next couple weeks; hopefully I'll get a chance to post some Costa Rica shots.

Jan 7, 2009
James Spano

Never made it below Cambodia and Vietnam. I'd love to visit some day though!

Jan 7, 2009
scott@herkimercoffee.com

Thanks for the note Alun. Maybe we'll bump into each other in Rome or (even better) somewhere in the islands! Trying to put something together in the fall. We'll see how time makes itself available.

Jan 8, 2009
Pablo Castaneda

Really good pics you have here Alun, hope you have an awesome and productive 2009.-

Jan 8, 2009
Jason

Thanks for the welcome. Yup, it's definitely unique owning espresso bars in The Hamptons and we do have a few celebrity regulars and visitors. Only a few times are their actually perks, though, and most of the time The Hamptons is more about high rents, utilities, and lack of employees because all the houses around here are $1 million+. But on the flip side, we do have beautiful free beaches, a great atmosphere, and lots to do.

Jan 8, 2009
Mike McGinness

The USRC 3k is a great little work horse. Very good power and control. Most coffees can do 8LB batches no problem for 24LB greens per hour capacity. Some if wanting a fast 12 to 13min profile use slightly smaller batch. Started with the 3k instead of a 5k mainly because my locale roasters with rated capacity 10LB or larger require mandatory after-burner.

Enjoyed your lever blogging. Still don't have one myself, one of these days!

Jan 9, 2009
Rich Abker

Alun, You are leading a fascinating life. There are probably hundreds of questions
that I would like to ask you, but just a few will do for now.
**Where did you grow up?
**How many languages do you speak, and what is your primary?
**How did you get involved in both wholesale and retail coffee?
**Why Indionesia?
**What do you know about the coffee history of Java related to the world's
first well known coffee blend?
I envy your lifestyle and admire your passion.

Jan 10, 2009
Eddie

When I find them, thanks, I will Alun! Happy New Year to you too!

Jan 10, 2009
Alexa Baehr

Hello from Seattle, WA.

Jan 10, 2009
nik orosi

great pictures and posts that you are sending, thanks for all!

Jan 10, 2009
Mo Hautala

That would be quite the adventure for you to drive north and visit Albany County, WY where I am now. Lots to do, amazing bike trials, world famous climbing area, etc. . . The local coffee house I work for is great. =] We roast our own coffee as well. www.coalcreekcoffee.com If you do come up this way, into Laramie we should definitely set up a tea (or in our case, coffee) time, and meet with the owners John and Jodi. They are really passionate about what they do. . .

As far as visiting Indonesia, wow would that be an experience! It's a dream of mine to visit a few place of origins, and to do a foreign barista exchange. =] someday. . .

Jan 11, 2009
Travis Smith

Hello Alun. I will be traveling there in march. I'm planning on spending some time in Singapore, and heading up into Malaysia to do some diving over a weekend before heading to Medan. I might head to Saipan to check on a possible business venture.

Jan 11, 2009
Rich Abker

Thanks, I appreciate the detailed response.

Malheureuse, Je ne peux pas parler le langue d' Indionesia, mais quand j'habite'
au Casablanca, J'appris le Francais. Ainsi j'en parler comme un etranger.

Bon chance mon ami!

Jan 11, 2009
Abbas

Hi Alun. How have you been. Good wishes in this new year 2009. I was in India for three weeks and away from gizmos and electronic so not connected.Back to Jakarta after a long break and excited to take the coffee shop to new heights. Whats happening on your front?

Jan 11, 2009
Abbas

well was in Mumbai and in Delhi. As of now concentrating on the coffee outlet in Menara Imperium in Jakarta.

Jan 11, 2009
Abbas

India is truly incredible. its a land of contrast. 40% of the population lives below the poverty line but top 10% have the highest earning potential.Though hard infrastructure is a distant dream but soft infrastructure in terms of knowledge and awareness is the driving factor for the economy. let me know in advance when u plan to drop in Menara Imperium. I am based in the head office and visit the outlet sometimes

Jan 11, 2009