Cafe Susu: Indonesian Iced Kopi Susu With Palm Sugar

Cafe susu simply means coffee with milk: susu is the Indonesian and Malay word for milk, and in Indonesia the drink is called kopi susu. Its most popular modern form is es kopi susu gula aren, an iced coffee layered with cold milk and a dark, caramel-like palm sugar syrup. You can make it at home in five minutes with a strong shot of coffee, milk, ice and a simple syrup.

Here is what each word means, the recipe in US and metric measures, and the best substitutes if you cannot find palm sugar.

What Does Cafe Susu Mean? Decoding Es Kopi Susu Gula Aren

• Es means ice, so the drink is served cold.
• Kopi means coffee.
• Susu means milk.
• Gula aren is palm sugar made from the sap of the sugar palm, Arenga pinnata. The sap is boiled down until it thickens into a syrup or sets into blocks, which gives it deep caramel, toffee and slightly smoky notes.

Sweet milky coffee has been part of everyday Indonesian life for generations, often made with condensed or evaporated milk. The iced, palm sugar version with fresh milk took off in Jakarta cafés around the mid-2010s and spread quickly through grab-and-go coffee chains, becoming one of the country's signature modern coffee drinks.

It is a very different cup from Indonesia's traditional unfiltered coffee, where grounds are stirred straight into hot water. If that is what you are after, read our guide to kopi tubruk.

Palm Sugar Syrup (Gula Aren Syrup)

Make this first. It keeps in the fridge for up to two weeks in a clean, sealed jar.

• 3.5 oz (100 g) palm sugar, grated or chopped (about 1/2 cup packed)
• 1/2 cup (120 ml) water
• 1 pandan leaf, knotted (optional)
• 1 small pinch of salt

1. Put everything in a small saucepan over medium-low heat.
2. Stir until the sugar fully melts, then simmer gently for 3 to 5 minutes until slightly syrupy.
3. Strain through a fine sieve to catch any bits of palm fiber, which are common in block palm sugar.
4. Cool completely before using. The syrup thickens as it chills.

Liquid palm sugar is also sold in some Asian grocery stores. Mix it with an equal amount of hot water and you have syrup in seconds. For other syrups to keep on hand, see our homemade coffee syrups.

Es Kopi Susu Gula Aren Recipe

Makes one 12 oz (350 ml) glass.

• 2 tbsp (30 ml) palm sugar syrup, more to taste
• 1 cup of ice cubes
• 1/2 cup (120 ml) cold whole milk
• 2 oz (60 ml) espresso (a double shot) or very strong coffee

1. Pour the palm sugar syrup into the bottom of a tall glass.
2. Fill the glass with ice.
3. Pour in the cold milk. It will sit above the syrup.
4. Brew the coffee and pour it slowly over the back of a spoon so it floats on top, creating three layers: dark syrup, white milk, brown coffee.
5. Stir well before drinking so the syrup is evenly mixed.

No espresso machine?

Use a moka pot, an AeroPress made strong, or 2 oz (60 ml) of cold brew concentrate. Regular drip coffee is too weak here; the milk and ice will wash it out. Our guide to making cold brew at home shows how to make a concentrate you can keep in the fridge.

Palm Sugar Substitutes

Gula aren can be hard to find in US supermarkets. One thing to know when shopping: products labeled simply “palm sugar” are often coconut sugar, which comes from a different palm. It still works well, but the flavor is a little milder. These swaps all work:

Variations and Tips

• Old-school creamy: replace half the milk with 1 to 2 tbsp sweetened condensed milk and cut the syrup in half.
• Oat milk version: barista-style oat milk layers nicely and pairs well with the caramel notes. See our oat milk latte tips.
• Pandan twist: steep the pandan leaf in the syrup for an aroma similar to vanilla with a grassy edge.
• Hot kopi susu: stir 1 tbsp syrup into a double espresso and top with 4 oz (120 ml) steamed milk.
• Batch it: mix 1 part syrup, 2 parts coffee concentrate and 4 parts milk in a bottle; it keeps for two days in the fridge. Shake before pouring over ice.
• Use a bold coffee. Indonesian coffee is traditionally roasted dark, and a heavy-bodied coffee keeps its flavor through the milk and sweetness.

If you like this style of drink, compare it with Vietnam's condensed-milk coffee in our Vietnamese iced coffee recipe. Both are sweet and milky, but the Vietnamese version is brewed slowly through a phin filter and sweetened only with condensed milk.

Cafe Susu FAQ

What is the difference between kopi susu and a latte?

A latte is espresso with a large amount of steamed milk and usually no sweetener. Kopi susu is sweetened, often with condensed milk or palm sugar, and tends to be stronger in coffee flavor relative to milk.

How much caffeine is in es kopi susu gula aren?

It depends on the coffee. A double espresso usually lands somewhere around 120 to 150 mg of caffeine, and Robusta-heavy coffee pushes that higher. The FDA cites up to 400 mg a day as generally safe for most healthy adults; if you are pregnant, have a medical condition or take medication, ask your doctor.

Is palm sugar the same as coconut sugar?

No. True gula aren comes from the sugar palm, while coconut sugar comes from the coconut palm. They behave the same way in a syrup, and coconut sugar is the easiest substitute to find.

Can I make it without sugar?

You can, but the palm sugar is the signature flavor. For a lighter version, use 1 tbsp of syrup instead of 2 and let the milk carry the sweetness.

Make Your Own Kopi Susu

A great cafe susu starts with coffee that can stand up to milk and sugar. Try the full-bodied Indonesian single origin Bali Blue, the earthy Sumatra, or our Robusta from West Java for an extra-strong, traditional-style kick. Every Feel Espresso order is roasted 1–5 days before delivery, so your iced coffee tastes fresh from the first sip.