Great Coffee, But Bring Your Own Food… This Pekanbaru Cafe is a Real Love-Hate.
qponx
2026-03-06
One Refinery in Pekanbaru is a true love-hate experience. This spacious cafe features a lush, green outdoor area perfect for chilling out. The main draw is its rare, native Liberica coffee—a must-try for enthusiasts seeking a unique flavor. However, be prepared for a major trade-off: the service is notoriously slow and the food can be underwhelming. It's the perfect spot for a patient coffee lover, but definitely not for those who are hungry or in a hurry.
Girls, let me start with the bottom line: if you're starving, or have plans right after, definitely don't come here. But if you're looking for a place to Nongkrong for an afternoon and try some truly niche Indonesian beans, then this place is absolutely Mantap.
The space is huge, but your patience needs to be even "huger"
Walking into One Refinery, I was genuinely surprised. The place is super spacious, not at all like those cramped little shops in Jakarta. The outdoor area is surrounded by greenery, and once you sit down, you won't want to leave. It's a great spot to Chill with friends[1].
The interior design is also quite creative, blending an industrial style with lokal elements. BUT! And this is important, the indoor area surprisingly has no air conditioning, just a few giant fans blowing away[2]. Plus, the lighting is quite dim, so girls who want to take pretty photos might be disappointed.
Signature Coffee vs. a Disappointing Special
As a coffee lover, I came specifically for their native Liberica Coffee[3] from Riau province. These beans are really something special, not your run-of-the-mill Arabica or Robusta. The flavor is very unique; I felt it had a slightly boozy aftertaste, which was fascinating!
But I couldn't resist and ordered a special drink called Liberica Coldplay, thinking it would be amazing, but... the chocolate flavor was overpowering and completely stole the show from the coffee itself. Not recommended.
As for the food, I tried the recommended organic seafood noodles (Mie rebus organic seafood)[4], and while the taste was good, they were really stingy with the ingredients... I counted just three small pieces of squid, which felt a bit cheap, haha.
Honestly: Anjay, the service is slow
Alright, time to start complaining. The ambiance and coffee quality at this place are on point, but the service speed is... Anjay slow! I watched the table next to me wait for almost an hour before they just canceled their fried rice[5]. It was the same for us. The shop wasn't even busy, but we still waited forever for a single cup of coffee. For my impatient friends, you would literally explode on the spot.
Key Points! My Guide to Visiting
- Don't go hungry: The food service speed is a mystery. Be prepared to wait forever. I suggest eating beforehand and just coming for the coffee.
- Coffee blind-pick guide: If you want to try something new, go straight for the single-origin Liberica Coffee[6]. The special drinks are a bit of a minefield, so it's best to ask about the flavor profile before ordering to avoid disappointment.
- Seat selection tips: If you can't stand the heat, head to the outdoor green area. Although there's no AC, the ventilation is good. The indoor lighting is dim, better for chatting than for taking photos.
- Muslim-friendly: They have a separate prayer room (Musholla), and it's clean and spacious[7]. This definitely deserves a big thumbs up
- A spacious escape from Jakarta's crowds. Its lush green outdoor area is perfect to Chill with friends all afternoon [1].
- Coffee lovers, try the native Riau Liberica Coffee[2]. It has a unique flavor with a subtle, boozy aftertaste.
- Muslim friends will appreciate the dedicated, clean & spacious prayer room (Musholla)[3]. A thoughtful touch
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