Google 4.8 Stars? The service at this viral Balikpapan cafe was a real eye-opener.
qponx
2026-03-05
This viral Balikpapan cafe, Goffee, is a true love-hate affair. While its signature donuts are praised as flawless and the Sea Salt Caramel coffee is a must-try, the experience is soured by surprisingly poor service and long waits. This review breaks down the rollercoaster visit, giving you the inside scoop on what's worth ordering and the "traps" to avoid. Is the amazing food enough to make up for the frustrating service? Find out before you go.
Honestly, before coming to Balikpapan, my friends were hyping up Goffee like crazy, saying it's the "champion"[1] of donuts and coffee. Drawn by its high 4.8 rating on Google[2] and this reputation, I came over full of anticipation. The result... well, how should I put it? It was like a rollercoaster of emotions, a love-hate relationship! 🎢
First, the praise: their stuff is actually pretty good
To be fair, the quality of their products is solid. The vibe is pretty chill, divided into an indoor air-conditioned area and an outdoor smoking area. Although the place isn't big, it's clean and tidy, and there are enough power outlets, so it's totally fine to bring a laptop and nongkrong for an afternoon. What surprised me the most was that they actually have a super clean prayer room (musholla)[3]! This little detail really won me over, Mantap! 👍
Food-wise, the freshly baked signature donuts[4] are truly flawless. The outside is slightly crispy, and the inside is super soft and fluffy, absolutely amazing. For coffee, I ordered the most popular Sea Salt Caramel[5]. That silky milk cap with its mix of salty and sweet, paired with the rich coffee—I instantly understood why my friend said it "raised the standard for lokal coffee." It's genuinely delicious. My friend who was with me tried the Dirty Coffee[6] and also said it was smooth and the coffee flavor was top-notch.
BUT! I really have to vent about the downsides
Okay, praise is over, now I'm gonna start ranting. The service here is really... hard to describe. Some of the staff had a cold expression the whole time, making you feel like you're bothering them if you ask one more question. It's like they've had no professional training at all[7]. And the waiting time is super long! I was just getting a donut to go, and even though I asked and they said they were in stock, I ended up waiting for almost half an hour[8]. Anjay, I was about to lose my mind from sitting there.
The prices aren't exactly budget-friendly either. A cup of coffee starts at around 30k Indonesian Rupiah[9]. The most outrageous thing is the reservation policy I heard about. Apparently, you have to pay a large deposit, and if your spending doesn't meet the minimum charge, they'll force you to add more to your order[10]. What kind of ridiculous policy is that? It's so unfriendly to students!
Let me break it down for you (a guide to avoid the traps)
- What to order: Get straight to the point! Just order the signature donuts and the Sea Salt series[11] or the Dirty Coffee[12]. Other snacks like french fries are supposedly good too. But definitely don't touch the pour-over coffee. Some of the girls said it was as weak as water[13].
- When to go: If you value your sanity, don't go during meal times and weekend peak hours, or you'll be waiting forever. If you want to work quietly or just chill, weekday afternoons are the best choice.
- Mental prep: Please automatically lower your expectations for the service. If you're on the second floor, be prepared that you might have to run up and down yourself to chase your order and pick up your food[14].
- Reservation heads-up: If you're a large group and want to make a reservation, make sure! Absolutely sure! to ask about all the details of the deposit and minimum charge in advance to avoid getting ripped off.
- The Sea Salt Caramel Coffee has silky, salty-sweet cream over rich coffee. One sip shows why it's 'raising the local coffee standard'[1].
- Champion-tier donuts! The fresh signature donut is crisp outside, super fluffy inside. Unbelievably good[2].
- They have a super clean prayer room (musholla)[3]! A rare, thoughtful detail that instantly wins you over.
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