Coffee Shop in Aceh and its Social Phenomenon

In Aceh, most of young people spend time in coffee shops. The coffee shop also has its own function in the culture of the people of Aceh. The coffee shop was once a masculine room accessible only by men. But now also emerging more modern cafes where women also come to visit.

The coffee shop in Aceh serves as a public space. The community gathered, greeted each other and shared information. Talks about everyday life, even talk about politics.

Lately, the phenomenon of coffee shops in Aceh is criticized by a number of people, one of which is the academics. A coffee shop is considered a place where young people spend up to hours. These young people are considered to be unproductive because they only spend time in the coffee shop.

This criticism is true. In Aceh, students spend more time in coffee shops than in libraries. Based on the results of the study, the literacy rate of Acehnese people is only in the range of one percent. Interest in reading is very low, even among university students.

The habit of hang out in coffee shops too long is considered a social pathology that threatens productivity, both among students and the labor force.

If we see why the coffee shop is always crowded to visit, there may be one interesting reason we need to know. The unemployment rate in Aceh is higher than the national average. The poverty rate also ranges from 16 percent.

Most of the unemployed spend their time in the coffee shop. Some are odd workers who spend the rest of their time in the coffee shop. Many productive time is wasted in the coffee shop.

I am as a citizen of Aceh and also a coffee shop visitors hoping coffee culture in coffee shop still exist and able to play its social function.

A coffee shop is a place where people of different social status interact. Coffee shops for young people can be a public space where they exchange ideas and positive ideas to contribute to building a better Aceh.