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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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Marc Andrew Miranda

thanks for the add sir Evans , i hope you will have a cafe here in the philippines . hehe :)

Jul 6, 2009
Albert

i know it's so much hard.. some one else experience in the business is my only lesson .. :)

well that is so nice.. hope we can meet up for a chat.. :) or maybe i will give you thousand of question from here.. :) hehehehehe....
all the best for you.. :)

Jul 6, 2009
Chris K

Alun, believe it or not ive never used a nakie on my lever.

Ive seen it on different commercial levers.

And i have a squillion portafilters to use .

I should.

Im not a fan of a naked portafilter shot.

Probably helps understand the process.
But ive seen it. Just not on mine.

Jul 7, 2009
Chris K

Aiun, my portafilters for the Pompei are 54 mm ...

If you have some spare narror 58s you should still try and hack them away yourself.

C'mon be adventurous. :)

Jul 8, 2009
Chris K

Errrrrrrrrrrrrrr i did mean 53 mms. :P

If youre around. Take a peek on yahoo.

Jul 8, 2009
Chris K

I dont have skype .
I used to but i deleted it.

We will have to catch up at some stage.

What are youing in those hills?
A remake of 'the sound of music???'

or sourcing some magical beans?

Jul 8, 2009
Mardaniah Mursid

:) thks for share this site. hopefully i can take many experiences with coffee

Jul 9, 2009
brett felchner

Thanks for the post Alun. Also, I see in your music section that you have some Buck 65 which is awesome. My friends and I followed Buck around the midwest on one of his tours a couple years back and had an incredible time. I just saw him in May over at Soundset '09 which was a great set too. You listen to any other u.g.h.h.?

Jul 9, 2009
Marc Andrew Miranda

sir you were to setup something here in the phil. please train me to be your employee someday . i am a hardworking person :) . yes Figaro here is good . ill try to check on them some other day .

Jul 11, 2009
Hemanth Dodamane

Hi Alun,
Pleasure.... thanks for adding. Had a chat with Donna few weeks ago.. U guys are doing a wonderful job. Coffee from the farm with no midlle man. Perfect. Will b in touch. cheers

Jul 23, 2009
Zech

Hi Alun,

Thank you for inviting!

Jul 28, 2009
Paul Willmott-Dalton

Hi Alun, if you're ever down here we'll pull a few shots on my old beasties.

Aug 6, 2009
Les Stoneham

Hey Alun. Thanks again for meeting up. It was a really informative, helpful time. My only regret was i didn't have more time to pull a shot on that beautiful machine. Good luck with the new store. We'll be in touch soon.

Aug 11, 2009
Carlo Grenci

Hi Alun
yes I can confirm: Italy is almost 100% stuch in August, except for the places of holidays like at sea and in the mountains...
August is the only month of the year in which Napoli is a great place to live and work, because about 2/3 of the Neapolitans are away.
This year I am staing here quietly at home; everywhere it is just overcrowded and stressful, while I live in front of the sea and I can only hear birds and cecadas singing. This is the best place : my home.
My boat needs some works and, as I could nort fix her during the winter I preferred not to risk to spend 2 weeks in the engine room rather than enjoying sailing. I will probably leave on a "gastronomic safari" to Sicily for a week... but nothing has been really decided. I just want to do what I feel like doing, including SLEEPING.
Sorry for the long message. I'll come and visit you some day.
You are always welcome in Napoli

ciao

Aug 12, 2009
Carlo Grenci

Italy is stuck, I mean

Aug 12, 2009
Carlo Grenci

Mine is one of the very first ULDB's ever designed and built. She is a Santa Cruz 50' by Bill Lee. A lovely, fast, comfortable boat. The engine itself is ok, it's a marinized old MERCEDES 240,it will live longer than I will, the problems are in the electric plant.
Anyway make a whistle when You come to Napoli; I'll be happy to take You through this enormous madhouse !

ciao

Aug 12, 2009
Karen Eland

Hi Alun- just wanted you to know I still want to coffee-paint some of your wonderful photos but things have gotten a bit hectic around here, so it may be a couple months. Thanks for the permission and I'll stay in touch with the progress.

Aug 13, 2009
Rob

Hi Alun. I'll get some photos up of some of my roasters. The unit I am currently using does 2.3kg of green. I have a roaster nearly complete that will do bout 5 to 6kg.
more soon Rob

Aug 14, 2009
Heather Clark

Thanks! I really would like to make it happen. I think i might take up a couple of people suggestions and go to school again for agriculture. I think that coffee is addicting in so many ways. I know some Spanish, enough to understand it at least. I am going to do what i can for this dream job (also sounds wishy washy).

Aug 18, 2009
Heather Clark

That would actually be much more interactive and more interesting than taking classes on it. I think after everyone's suggestions I am more excited to start looking into everything and to start thinking about getting started with things. Thanks!

Aug 18, 2009
Thomas Ervin-Ward

Hey Alun, how are those samples coming?

Aug 19, 2009
Alberto Marzan

Thank you. As you can imagine things are very hectic becouse of #4. Where are you located?

Aug 19, 2009
John Mangrum jr

Yep, I took the picture up in Breckenridge (in Summit county). I decided to go up for a day get away. I really live down in Colorado Springs. I wish I could live up there. It sounds like you lead a pretty interesting life? hey, I manage a shop here in Springs, and was wondering in your journeys what really makes a coffee shop great?

Aug 19, 2009
Alberto Marzan

Oh the Broncos- Its going to be a long season for you guys. Anyways, what do you do in Jakarta?

Aug 19, 2009
Alberto Marzan

Throat beard. ha. I am the owner of Dominican Gold Coffee. We farm/grow gourmet coffee from the D.R. We also distribute it globally from Minneapolis and Miami. Do you guys get coffee from the D.R?
I invite you to visit our facebook fan page at

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dominican-Coffee/111633487205?ref=nf

Aug 19, 2009
Alberto Marzan

I would be happy to send you some of our roasted coffee we sell in the stores.

Aug 19, 2009
jonathon samuel

good to befriend you sir

Sep 6, 2009
John Mangrum jr

Hey man,

I consider you one of my coffee experts. (Hope you don't mind) I got a guy that comes in that really wants Jamaica Blue Mtn, but it costs me too much to get it. I was wondering if you can recommend a good place to get some or something like that (maybe online) which he would like just as much, if not like more.

thanks,
John

Sep 7, 2009
John Mangrum jr

Hey Thanks,
I think the Bronco's are going to do well this year. I hope the new coach helps. I saw the tail end of the last preseason game and it was like broncos 19 and Arizona 0. I think over all it will be a good season. So I go to ask what does it take to become a small importer of your? would it even be worth it here in Colorado? Would it even be possible? Hey thanks for the info. How you wanting the NFL season to go?

Sep 7, 2009
Tristram

hey alun, Its Tristram here from sydney. Im making my first trip to origin in bali. Ive been to bali before but never for the coffee. Just wondering if you could suggest and good coffee areas to visit or any outstanding coffees to recommend. Thanks.

Sep 8, 2009
Tristram

In saying that is it worth taking a trip to java to find more decent coffees? And is your cafe based in java. It'd be cool to check it out. Thanks

Sep 9, 2009
John Walker

Thank you for the photos. Was checking through them yesterday. Love your work.
I'm just an old boy from Te Awamutu. You never know where that mob will turn up next, eh Alun?

Sep 12, 2009
kartika rachmawati

hi..alun yes i'm from Indonesia and proud to be that =D nice to know you hope i can meet you soon talk about coffee surely i will visit "MERDEKA" coffee shop as well..MERDEKA ...=D

Sep 12, 2009
John Walker

Took me three years to get to Australia. Others usually go up to Auckland, turn left, and are here in three hours. I took the long way around.
Ran out of petrol here in Mackay in 77, met a girl and...
Went to Brisbane for a few years and Cairns for a few years. Brisbane was a bit cold in winter and Cairns a bit hot in summer, but Mackay was just right.
I noted you had a Vanuatu interest.
My wife has Vanuatu connections and a few months ago she and my kitchen manageress spent a week in Port vila. Had coffee made by a competion winner at the 'deli cafe.'
I think Justin Metcalf from Melbourne had been over to do workshops and run a comp.
[Him and Sean Edwards have also been up to Mackay the last two years for the same thing here in Mackay] Anyway, the report from my people is, that they could do with some help.
Now I know that everyone could do with some help, but these guys are starting from way back. Its exciting just how far they have come in a few years, though.
Yes the Finn family was in Teasdale street, next to Nans place, at one time back in the late 60's. Nan used to think they were too noisy. Some things never change, eh?

Sep 13, 2009
Tristram

yeah i had a great time just visiting and i got a green sample of them, i would have liked to visit java but im coming back next year to do a bit more exploring around indo plantations. I hope to come see your place soon, thanks for the advice.
cheers.

Oct 16, 2009
Louise

hey Alun, do u open a coffee shop in Jakarta? if u dont mind could u tell me where is ur coffee shop location? i want to taste the coffee that u roast. cheers..

Oct 20, 2009
mark atkinson

Hey mate, yes it is, although building yourself a unique presence requires a lot of time and effort. Its very much a starbucks/ one pattern world here...ah for coffee with personality!

Oct 20, 2009
mark atkinson

A very well traveled Aussie, lived abroad now most my life in the states etc now japan for the last seven years

Oct 20, 2009
John Walker

Still have one brother in Te Awamutu and three years ago we visited our middle brother, Douglas in Cambodia,who had lived for years around SE Asia.
That's just up the road from you, sort of.

Even met a Te Awamutu guy in Bangkok, just by chance, who imports milk powder and turns it into baby formular, and trades it through Sth China, Vietnam, Thailand etc. He used to go duck shooting down Aria way, in the hills behind Te Kuiti.

The time I spent at brother Dougs place in Cambodia that visit, left impressions on me that were quite different to the Thailand ones from a previous visit in 1976. Then it was fun fun, party party. More grown up now I guess.
Impressions of how close to the edge life is there, how raw and in your face.
And the threads that hold it all together seemed so fragile. One stumble or even an incident nearby, that you have no control over, could change your world forever.
Of course it could also happen out the front of home anywhere.
And then I read your stories of up a muddy track, off the side of a side track, it reminded me of the time I was up a muddy track in the scrub out from Koh Kong, Cambodia.
The rain, heavy clouds, clingly humidity, leeches and a rash. Insect bites that wouldn't stop weeping and damp clothes in the morning. I relished the time there and the oppurtunity, but I don't think I'll be back.

I've had a lick of that ice cream, thanks Alun.

I guess its all a bit far from the steam wand, for me now.

Oct 20, 2009
Tristram

thanks lot, im looking into opening my own place in the next 6 months serving coffee from my local roaster and some single estates through syphon and clover machines so im looking forward to visit more farms throughout south east asia. so ill keep in touch.

Oct 21, 2009
Eyal Rosen

Hi Alun,

I'm Eyal from ROASTe.com. Just happened to see that you are from Indonesia and I thought to offer you to join us as a lead blogger for Indonesia. We already feature blogs from leading coffee professional from Hawaii, Guatemala, and Costa Rica. They use their ROASTe blog to promote coffees from their country and to establish themselves as coffee champions among U.S. coffee lovers. We also actively promote each blog on various social platforms, to maximize exposure.

Please let me know if this is of interest to you.

Regards,
Eyal /ROASTe.com

Oct 29, 2009
Eyal Rosen

Cool!
Please send me your email address and I will open a bolgger acount for you. My email is eyal@roaste.com. BTW, you can check out our blogs on this page: coffee blogs.

Eyal /ROASTe.com

Oct 30, 2009
Phil

Hey Alun, nice to meet you. We haven't made it to Indonesia yet. We have been to Thailand, Laos and Malaysia and we will probably visit Myanmar (Burma) next week. Most of our trips have been for visa runs and at this point we don't need to take anymore until after we arrive in Taiwan.

I would like to visit Indonesia sometime, where exactly are you located? I will let you know if I am coming your way. I would be interested in trying some of your coffee(s). Maybe when I have a permanent address in Taiwan I will have to try some of your coffee. I see that you sell it on your website.

Thanks for contacting me Alun. Nice to meet you again. My brother Jonathan Lund is also on BX, he is traveling with me and is a coffee enthusiast as well as a friend of ours (don't think he is on BX).

Oct 30, 2009
Carlo Grenci

Hi Alun,

the article should have reported some links to videos witnessing the actual operational activity of a neapolitan barista on a lever machine; ...just for those who complaint about the "slow" lever machine, but these links were forgotten and they will probably appear on the nline version of the magazine. Here they are for You :
1) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ir68iy3IuQI
2) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Lugehc2r-o
3) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXJc2bzVX3I
and this last one shows how they make "caffè freddo" in Napoli...:

4) FREDDO http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Dq97OHWL3c&NR=1

enjoy !

ciao

Carlo

Oct 31, 2009
Haidee

hello...how are you? thanks for adding me in your friends list...just let me know
when you coming here in Philippines...see u soon.

Nov 1, 2009
Creme'cles Greek God o' Coffee

Hi! How are you?

Nov 2, 2009
Jens H Thomsen

Thanks Alun-it went well-we introduced our new brushed aluminum machine and had great success with it.
La Marzocco had their out of the box show (no booth at the Fiera) but I only went to the party Saturday.
We had a great meeting with George Howell and Vince Fidele who visited our factory and gave us great response...any specific news you were looking for?

Nov 3, 2009
saicek

Hi!
Nice to meet u!

Nov 3, 2009
bill travelin' joe choy

nyce 't meet ya mate! Hows business down unduh?

Nov 5, 2009
bill travelin' joe choy

Things are a bit slow, and im a bit on edge now, but biz is ok good enough just as long as things dont get worse, we'll be fine. 5 months for you, wow! Good luck!

Nov 5, 2009