Indonesian coffee chain Kopi Kenangan has entered Taiwan with its first store in Taipei, marking its seventh international market and another step in its aggressive overseas expansion.
The outlet has opened at Shin Kong Mitsukoshi A11 in Taipei’s Xinyi district, a high-footfall luxury retail cluster that houses global fashion and lifestyle brands. The choice of location signals a clear intent to position the brand alongside premium yet accessible beverage players, while tapping into Taiwan’s sophisticated café culture.
Founded in 2017 by Edward Tirtanata and James Prananto, the chain has rapidly scaled by blending affordability with localised flavours. Its core menu, led by the Kenangan Latte built on Indonesian palm sugar, is expected to be adapted for Taiwanese consumers, who are already accustomed to both specialty coffee and premium tea formats.
Taiwan presents a nuanced opportunity. It is a mature beverage market dominated by convenience-store coffee giants and global players, but also one where consumers actively experiment with new formats. Kopi Kenangan’s positioning between mass and specialty, could help it carve a niche similar to its playbook in Southeast Asia.
The move comes amid a broader international rollout that has seen the brand expand into markets such as India, Australia, Malaysia and Singapore. The company now operates over 1,000 outlets, largely concentrated in Indonesia, and has been steadily building its ‘Kenangan Coffee’ brand identity for international markets.
Backed by investors including B Capital, the company has been sharpening its focus on scalability, supply chain consistency and brand standardisation; key factors as it moves into more competitive, high-expectation markets like Taiwan.
The Taiwan launch also reflects a wider trend of Southeast Asian F&B brands stepping beyond their home turf, competing not just on price but on cultural differentiation and product storytelling. The company hinted at further expansion in Taiwan, with Taipei expected to serve as a launchpad for additional outlets if early traction holds.
