Revolver Espresso: Drinking coffee in a dungeon
Jl. Kayu Aya Gang. 51, Seminyak
Revolver Espresso hides itself on an alley that connects to Seminyak’s main avenue (Jl. Kayu Aya). The entrance is very modest, and appears more like a back service-door than an entrance. This is however, done to create an effect of “sneaking” into the place.
The interior had the air of a dungeon. It was cool, dark, and full of bricks. Immediately to the front of entrance is a coffee bar, showcasing its double-head black La Marzocco espresso machine. Beside it, a wooden stairway lead to an elevated platform that housed Revolver’s various merchandise.
To the right of entrance was a short corridor that lead to the back of the shop, which revealed just how large the area actually was. Another branch would present a semi-outdoor retro-latin seating area towards the right and a continuation of the “underground” theme towards the left, providing with more tables and chairs. In tune with the atmosphere, retro rap music blasted across the area. Along the way, a second bar stood, this one for alcoholic drinks, and a third one, back to coffee, presenting with another black La Marzocco. On the walls were collections of antique portraits, rifles, and neon lamps. Everything on it had the air of “funky retro”.
The coffee: piccolo (IDR 35k), served in a 4 oz. demi-tasse.
Based of a single shot from their dark-roasted house blend (Colombia-Guatemala-Papua New Guinea), it was naturally going to taste quite bitter. Indeed it did, plus it had good discernible notes of chocolate, nuts, and caramel. There was a sensation of lingering bitterness on it, which I found was common in Australian coffee shops. In fact, I was right — the owner is an Australian (Australians like their coffee dark and full-bodied).
Verdict:
The vibes over at Revolver are unmatched by any other coffee shops I’ve ever been to. Every single detail seemed to have been carefully placed and thought of. The coffee is all about idealism — one that advertises “dark” Australian coffee to the people of Indonesia. The place is perfect for dates or group visits, as they also provide an array of main courses and sides. Service is alright, though I’ve been to friendlier coffee shops.
