"Starblack" and Kopi Aceh

Coffee tradition is known in many communities in various countries. But, perhaps only found in Aceh, either in town or village, from dawn until midnight citizens alternately to a coffee shop.

In the village, had always been ordinary people to coffeehouse after morning prayers, "said Sulaiman Tripa Hotel, cultural researcher and author of several books in Banda Aceh. Solomon himself had worked in a coffee shop in Trieng Gading brother, Pidie, while still sitting on the bench junior.

Problems then emerged. Some time ago the Governor of Nanggroe Aceh Darussalam Irwandi Yusuf, who is also "visitors" coffee shop, got upset because many public servants are not in place when the working hours. He made "sweeping" the official favorite coffee shop in Banda Aceh. Since then the stifling of civil servants in uniform sitting in a coffee shop.

The coffee shop also invite domestic problems. "Breakfast is provided wives often do not touch. Many husbands choose breakfast at the coffee shop," said Tarmizi, entrepreneur coffee shop near the airport in Blang Bintang, Aceh Besar.

Change function

According to Solomon, the function of the coffee shop has been transformed from a coffee shop into a kind of social space, where the exchange of information.

Similar opinion expressed Fasya Teuku Kemal, an anthropologist at the University Malikussaleh, Lhok Seumawe. In the coffee shop is the answer to things that are not resolved through formal channels.

In the coffee shop, people talk about family issues, local politics, national, and the issues that are hot in the press spotlight. Substitution officials first often heard in the coffee shop, including officials scandal.

Coffeehouse figure itself may surprise those who've never been to Aceh. In Banda Aceh, hundreds of people huddled in a favorite coffee shop. Two-wheeled vehicles and four parked lengthwise like in shopping complex.

Coffee shop generally located in one or several shophouses. Some are shaped like a small shop in Java. Can be imagined when the room was packed with people cramped in the middle of a sunny day. Plus cigarette smoke. However, the more people crowded attract even more customers.

"In the coffee shop people can meet and post all sorts of people. Governors, regents, mayors, legislators, businessmen, contractors, teachers, clergy, and even unemployment," said Kemal Fasya. It's easier to meet officials or businessmen in a coffee shop than in his office. "The meeting at the coffeehouse opened the way for the next step."

The atmosphere is hard to find in other areas. In Java, for example, let governors or regents, an echelon II or III in the region must be reluctant to sit in a coffee shop with ordinary citizens or the unemployed because they are able to injure the prestige of civil servants corps.

Stress release

More exciting comment in cyberspace occurred around the existence of coffeehouses this Acehnese.

A blogger, Dudi Gurnadi and friends for example. He memelesetkan "Warkop" in Aceh this with the title "Starblack".

Starblack word is a word play on the international coffee shop that is currently extended in various parts of the world, Starbucks. Black coffee shops in Aceh, as well as their own tastes, making coffee Aceh match was called by bloggers as Starblack.

Another blogger stated, a coffee shop in Aceh also become a place dugem (sparkling world). Lack of entertainment in places like Aceh in the capital, discos, cinemas, nightclubs or presenting live musical entertainment, complete with entertainment, making coffee in Aceh as one of "entertainment" is enjoyable for the people of Aceh.

Nia (29), for example. Humanitarian workers in one of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) affiliated with the United States government is claiming to go to Aceh because of miss-chat chat with friends in a coffee shop colleagues in Aceh. Whether in the store Solong father, Ulee Kareng, or at Warkop Yukee Chek, in Jalan Pinggir time, Banda Aceh.

Again with the other campus. "When he arrived at the coffee shop, the first thing we do read the local newspaper," says a former student activist. After that, begin the discussion of issues of interest in the newspaper. Each has an opinion and often unreasonable. "So, we refer to the coffee shop to update slander," he said.

"Any problem can be solved in a coffee shop," said Tarmiji (42), businessman Sir Geuchik coffee shop, near the airport Blang Bintang, Aceh Besar. He referred Jamil, gurem contractors, who had talked at that time. When needed energy builder, Jamil enough spread information in a coffee shop. The next day, some builders meet Jamil at the same store.

When martial law was imposed, the disaster began to befall those who are still desperate to a coffee shop. Moreover, the coffee shop is one of the security forces sweeping targets.

Those who suspect identity is transported to the military or police headquarters. In Teupian Raya, a few years ago, the security forces set fire to a coffee shop after a bomb exploded near a bridge and killing three members of the Siliwangi troops. Store which is the only building near the scene of suspected post-control bomb attack.

Teungku Yahya, adviser Teungku Abdullah Syafei, warlord of the Free Aceh Movement (GAM), to exchange the desire to sit in a coffee shop in Pidie with his life. Security forces were already know your favorite routes GAM guerrillas. Teungku Yahya was killed officer hit by bullets.

Changes

The atmosphere of the store is one key to a successful coffee shop business in Aceh. Coffee shop owned by H Nawawi in Ulee Kareng, Solong Banda Aceh, for example. His shop is always crowded, often crowded visitor sitting in his shop.

Commotion? No it had occurred a commotion or complaint. Yet, every day an average of 2,500 people at the coffee shop that served Nawawi's 13 employees.

At Ulee Kareng, the price of a cup of regular coffee USD 3500 and USD 6000 milky coffee. Means, every day there is the velocity of money around Rp 10 million.

Remarkably again, prices at the coffee shops could also be a kind of "economic indicators" in Aceh.

"Before the tsunami (2004), earning USD 20,000 a day can make ends meet. Pricing a cup of coffee is only Rp 1,000. Now earning Rp 50,000 is not enough. Pricing a cup of coffee was Rp 2,500," said Ramond. Ramond (64) is a motorized rickshaw driver who often hung in front of Hotel Sultan, Banda Aceh.

There, the price of a cup of coffee is more reliable as an indicator of good or bad economic conditions. Increase in fuel prices or other macroeconomic policies are the following. Here, the coffee shop is part of the rhythm of life and considered concerning "human rights".