Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Kopi panas dan teh hangat sama enak di pagi hari. - Hot coffee and warm tea are equally delicious in the morning.

sama enak = equal degree of tastiness (they’re as tasty as each other).
sama-sama enak = both are tasty (no claim about equal degree). Both are natural, but they express slightly different nuances.

Can I add “adalah” here? For example, “Kopi panas dan teh hangat adalah sama enak.”

No. With adjectives, Indonesian normally omits a “to be” verb. Say Kopi panas dan teh hangat sama enak, not with adalah. Use adalah when the predicate is a noun: Kopi adalah minuman.

Why is it “kopi panas” and “teh hangat,” not “panas kopi” or “hangat teh”?

In Indonesian, adjectives usually follow the noun:

kopi panas (hot coffee)
teh hangat (warm tea) This noun–adjective order is the default.

What’s the difference between “panas” and “hangat”?

panas = hot (can be very hot/scalding).
hangat = warm. For drinks, teh hangat is a common request when you don’t want it too hot. Also note: “spicy” is pedas, not panas.

Is “di pagi hari” the only way to say “in the morning”? What about “pada pagi hari,” “pagi hari,” or “pagi-pagi”?

All are used, with slight differences:

pada pagi hari: more formal/standard.
di pagi hari: very common in everyday speech; widely acceptable.
pagi hari: also fine without a preposition.
pagi-pagi: “early in the morning.” Avoid just di pagi; it sounds odd—use di/pada pagi hari or simply pagi/pagi hari.

Can the time phrase move? For example, start with it?

Yes. Adverbials are flexible:

Di pagi hari, kopi panas dan teh hangat sama enak.
Kopi panas dan teh hangat sama enak di pagi hari. Both are natural.

Do I need a word like “cup of” here? How would I say it?

Not for a general statement. If you want to specify a serving:

secangkir kopi panas (a cup of hot coffee)
segelas teh hangat (a glass of warm tea) You can say: Secangkir kopi panas dan segelas teh hangat sama enak di pagi hari.

How do I show plural (“coffees/teas”) or quantities?

Indonesian usually leaves nouns unmarked for plural. Use numbers or quantifiers:

dua cangkir kopi panas
beberapa gelas teh hangat Reduplication (kopi-kopi) isn’t natural here.

Is there another way to say “as tasty as”?

Yes:

Kopi panas sama enak dengan teh hangat.
Kopi panas seenak teh hangat. (here se-
- adjective means “as … as”) Use seenak when directly comparing A and B; for a combined subject, use A dan B sama [adj].

Can I say “sama enaknya”?

Yes. -nya adds a natural emphasis/nominal feel to the degree of the adjective:

Kopi panas dan teh hangat sama enaknya di pagi hari.
Minum kopi panas atau teh hangat di pagi hari sama enaknya. All mean “equally tasty,” with a slightly more rounded/colloquial tone.

Is “enak” only about taste?

Mostly it means “tasty/delicious,” but it also means “pleasant/comfortable” in other contexts:

musik yang enak didengar (pleasant to hear)
tidak enak badan (feeling unwell) For food, enak is the go-to everyday word.

Are there synonyms for “enak”?

Yes:

lezat: delicious (more formal/elevated)
sedap: tasty/savory (common; also Malay-influenced)
nikmat: delectable/pleasurable (can sound rich/indulgent) In casual speech, enak is safest.

Could I drop “panas/hangat” and just say coffee and tea are equally tasty?

Yes: Kopi dan teh sama enak di pagi hari. Adding panas/hangat gives a temperature nuance; without them, it’s a general statement.

How would I say “this morning” or “earlier this morning” instead of “in the morning”?

pagi ini = this morning (today)
tadi pagi = earlier this morning (today, already past) Example: Kopi panas dan teh hangat sama enak tadi pagi.