For Chicco Jerikho, the Future Brims With Coffee
The tall, sturdy actor patiently posed for pictures with his fans in Kuningan City, South Jakarta that Wednesday afternoon. Most of them were female and many did not hesitate to hug him tightly while taking selfies with him.
A group of reporters waited patiently behind the group of excited fans to have a short interview with the actor.
Chicco Jerikho Jarumillind is indeed a rising star in Indonesia’s movie industry.
Born in Jakarta in 1984, Chicco started his career by taking part in a coverboy competition for a local teen magazine, during which he caught the eye of a televisions producer and was offered a role in a soap opera, or sinetron.
Chicco has since appeared in over a dozen TV dramas, but he sky rocketed to nationwide fame when starred alongside popular Indonesian actress/model/ singer Laudya Cynthia Bella in the soap opera hit “Cinta Bunga” (“Bunga’s Love”) on SCTV from 2007 to 2008.
The same year saw the 30-year-old graduate to movie roles as he made his silver screen debut as a supporting character in the horror flick “Lawang Sewu” (“A Thousand Doors”) in 2007.
In 2008, he co-starred in the movie “In The Name of Love” with Acha Septriasa, Luna Maya and Vino Bastian.
The actor finally took center stage by accepting a leading film role in 2014 with “Cahaya Dari Timur: Beta Maluku” (“Light From the East: I Am Maluku”), a true story about an Indonesian football player who returns to his birthplace of Maluku to teach the local children football and steer them away from religious clashes between Muslims and Catholics.
The role earned Chicco the coveted Citra Award for best actor in December that same year.
Refusing to rest on his laurels, the Jakarta native dove straight into another leading role for “Filosofi Kopi” (“Coffee Philosophy”) alongside fellow heartthrob Rio Dewanto.
The movie, which is still in production now, is an adaptation from a novel by award-winning Indonesian writer Dewi “Dee” Lestari.
The story chronicles the journey of two friends, Ben (Chicco) and Jody (Rio Dewanto), who set up a coffee shop named “Filosofi Kopi” in Jakarta.
Shortly after the cafe opens its doors, a customer challenges the pair to brew the “perfect cup of coffee,” launching them on a quest to find the best coffee beans Indonesia has to offer.
Instead, the two men find themselves going through an emotional, soul-searching experience.
“Filosofi Kopi” will hit theaters nationwide on April 9.
After a press conference for the film, the Jakarta Globe sat down with the actor for a brief chat.
Q: How did you get the role of Ben in ‘Filosofi Kopi’?
A: When I was shooting “Cahaya dari Timur: Beta Maluku,” the movie director, Angga (Dwimas Sasangko), told me of his plan to adapt Dewi’s novel into a movie. And he also told me that she thought the right person to play Ben would be me.
So, I read the book.
What do you think of the story?
It’s very interesting. It’s not only about coffee and its philosophies, but it’s also a journey into the past, in which both characters make peace with their difficult pasts. There are so many positive messages in that story.
So, I told [Angga] that I would play Ben in the movie.
What do you think of your character, Ben?
Ben is the son of a coffee-farmer. He’s mad about coffee. He can speak volumes about [the subject] and brew a great cup of coffee. In fact, he considers himself a coffee-artist.
Are you a coffee aficionado yourself?
I love coffee. I always start my days with a cup of coffee in the morning. But I don’t know how to brew one! I usually drink the instant coffee.
So, how did you prepare for the role?
I took lessons [in brewing coffee] at the ABCD [School of Coffee] in Pasar Santa, South Jakarta.
I took their Appreciation Class, where I learned about many different types of coffee beans and where they grow.
I also took their Brewing Class and learned the correct ways of brewing.
I found out that there are actually many different techniques involved in making a great cup of coffee. And the [ingredients] have to be very exact so as not to ruin the flavor.
In the Cupping Class, I learned how to really savor a cup of coffee, starting from its aroma to the many different flavors it may contain.
In the Definitive Espresso Class, I learned the correct ways of making coffee by using an espresso machine.
Did you try to work as a barista to better get into your role as Ben?
I apprenticed in a number of coffee shops in Jakarta and Bali, including Kopi Kultur [Kuta, Bali], Kopikina [Tebet, South Jakarta] and One-Fifteenth [Gandaria, South Jakarta], for a few weeks.
I made coffee and served customers. And I also gave [ customers] a sheet of paper and asked them to review the coffee I had prepared for them.
Did you get good reviews?
Well, some said there was too much milk in their cappuccinos. And some said their coffees were not strong enough or too sweet. I learned that the role of the barista is indeed very crucial in making a good cup of coffee.
What’s your favorite coffee?
The Toraja Coffee [from South Sulawesi] is my favorite. It has a very delectable aroma and bold flavors.
If you were a cup of coffee, what would you be?
Kopi Tubruk [traditional Indonesian coffee that is unfiltered]. It’s very simple. It doesn’t have a pretty look, yet it has very strong flavours. And it’s delicious!
What was the biggest challenge in playing Ben?
Ben and Chicco are worlds apart. Ben grew up without his parents, which turned him into a very silent and introverted person. In contrast, I grew up with both my parents and am naturally an open person.
Did you experience any difficulties while shooting the movie?
Not really. I keep consulting Dewi during the shooting process to stay true to my character.
Rio and I have also known each other for quite some time and it really helps in creating chemistry for the movie.
Now that you know how to make a great cup of coffee, are you interested in setting up your own coffee shop and becoming a barista?
Yes, I am. In fact, Rio, Angga and I are going to set up our own coffee shop in Melawai, Blok M [South Jakarta] with the same name [as the movie], ‘Filosofi Kopi,’ after it is released.
Rio and I are going to be the baristas during weekends.
What’s next in your career?
I want to really focus on movies. I want to try as many different roles as possible. In fact, that’s the main exciting thing about being an actor, you can transform into many different characters who may be quite the opposite of who you really are.
What’s your dream role in a movie?
I want to become a villain. That would be awesome!
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