Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Kopi kami kurang panas, biar saya menambahkan air panas. - Our coffee is not hot enough; let me add hot water.

kurang panas = not hot enough/insufficiently hot (relative to an expected standard).
tidak panas = not hot (at all); could be room temperature or cold.
tidak cukup panas = not hot enough; similar to kurang panas, a bit more formal/explicit.
tidak terlalu panas = not too hot; often neutral or even positive in tone, not a complaint.

Why is kami used instead of kita in kopi kami?

kami = we/us (exclusive: excludes the listener).
kita = we/us (inclusive: includes the listener). Talking to a waiter about your table’s coffee: kopi kami is correct because the waiter is not part of your group. If speaking to your companion who shares the coffee with you, kopi kita works.

Is kopi kami the normal way to say “our coffee”? Could I say kopinya kami or use punya?

The normal possessive pattern is Noun + possessive pronoun: kopi kami, kopi kita, kopi saya.
kopinya kami is not the usual way to say our coffee.
You might hear kopi punya kami in casual speech to emphasize ownership, but kopi kami is simpler and standard.

What does biar mean here? Is it “let,” “so that,” or something else?

Here biar means “let/allow,” as in Biar saya menambahkan… = “Let me add…”. More generally:

biar can mean “so that/in order that” (casual synonym of supaya/agar).
In colloquial speech, biar can also mean “even if” (similar to walaupun/meskipun), but not in this sentence.

Is biar too casual? What are more polite or formal alternatives?

Neutral/polite requests:
- Boleh saya menambahkan air panas?
- Bisa saya menambahkan air panas?
- Bisa tolong tambahkan air panas?
More formal:
- Izinkan saya menambahkan air panas.
Biarkan saya is grammatical but can sound more commanding or dramatic; not typical for service situations.

Why isn’t adalah used in Kopi kami kurang panas?

In Indonesian, adjectives can function as predicates without a copula. Kopi kami kurang panas is complete. Adalah is used before nouns (e.g., Dia adalah guru), not before adjectives.

I thought air means what we breathe. Why does air here mean “water,” and how do you pronounce it?

In Indonesian, air means water (a common false friend). It’s pronounced roughly like ah-eer in two syllables. The word for what we breathe is udara.

Shouldn’t it say “add hot water to the coffee”? Why is there no to phrase?

Indonesian often omits obvious information. Menambahkan air panas implies adding it to the coffee from context. If you want to be explicit, say:

menambahkan air panas ke dalam kopi
menambahkan air panas ke cangkirnya

What’s the difference between menambah and menambahkan?

Both mean “to add,” and in many contexts they’re interchangeable.

menambah [X] = add X (general).
menambahkan [X] (ke [Y]) = add X (to Y); the suffix -kan often highlights the result or the affected target. In practice, both are widely used.

Could I say tambahkan or tambahin instead of menambahkan?

Tambahkan is an imperative: Tambahkan air panas = “Add hot water.”
Tambahin is a common colloquial form (Jakarta/urban): Tambahin air panas. It’s fine in casual speech but avoid in formal writing/situations.
Bisa tolong ditambahkan air panas? is a polite passive request.

Why is it air panas (adjective after noun) but kurang panas (modifier before adjective)?

In noun phrases, adjectives follow the noun: air panas = hot water, kopi dingin = iced/cold coffee.
With predicate adjectives, degree markers come before the adjective: kurang panas, sangat panas, lebih panas.

Does panas ever mean “spicy”?

No. Panas = hot (temperature). Pedas = spicy. For “warm,” use hangat. Examples:

kopi panas = hot coffee
sambal pedas = spicy chili sauce
air hangat = warm water

If I’m speaking to a server, is it natural to say this sentence as-is?

It can sound like you intend to add the water yourself. To request service more clearly:

Maaf, kopi kami kurang panas. Bisa tolong panaskan lagi?
Maaf, kopi kami kurang panas. Boleh minta ditambahkan air panas?
Maaf, kopinya kurang panas. Bisa ganti yang lebih panas?

Can biar also mean “so that” in a sentence like this?

Yes, but the structure changes. For purpose:

Biar lebih panas, saya menambahkan air panas. = So that it’s hotter, I add hot water. In the original sentence, Biar saya… means “Let me…”

Why is there a comma between the clauses? Could I use jadi?

Indonesian often links related clauses with a comma. You could also use jadi (so) or karena/sebab (because), depending on flow:

Kopi kami kurang panas, jadi saya menambahkan air panas.

How do I show past or future time here?

Indonesian doesn’t mark tense on the verb; use time words:

Future/intent: Saya akan menambahkan air panas.
Completed: Saya sudah menambahkan air panas.
Just now: Tadi saya menambahkan air panas.

Is kurang panas the most idiomatic complaint, or should I say something else?

Kurang panas is natural. Alternatives depending on nuance:

Tidak cukup panas (more explicit/formal)
Terlalu dingin (too cold)
If you want reheating instead of dilution: Tolong panaskan lagi.

How do I ask them to add the water (not me)?

Use a request/passive:

Bisa tolong ditambahkan air panas?
Tolong tambahkan air panasnya.
Boleh minta tambahan air panas?

How is menambahkan formed from tambah?

Root: tambah (add)

Prefix meN-
- tambah → menambah (the initial t drops and the nasal assimilates to n)
Add suffix -kan → menambahkan Meaning: to add (something), often with a sense of causing an increase.

Is saya the right pronoun here? Could I use aku?

Saya is the default polite/formal first-person pronoun and is appropriate with service staff or strangers. Aku is informal/intimate and best with friends or family.

Should I say air panas or air hangat if I don’t want to dilute the coffee too much?

air panas = hot/boiling water; it will heat but also dilute the coffee.
air hangat = warm water; heats less, also dilutes. If you want heating without dilution, ask for reheating: Tolong panaskan (lagi) kopinya.