Learn Hardcore Indonesian: Saya suka rasa kopi panas itu. - I like the taste of that hot coffee.

Both are grammatically correct. The version with saya is a bit clearer and slightly more formal or careful; dropping saya sounds more casual and is common in conversation when it’s obvious who is speaking.

What is the difference between saya and aku here?

Both mean I / me, but they differ in formality and context:

saya: neutral–polite, used in most formal or semi-formal situations (with strangers, at work, in public, in writing).
aku: informal–intimate, used with close friends, family, or people of the same age in casual contexts.

So you could also say:

Aku suka rasa kopi panas itu. (informal)

The meaning is the same; only the tone / level of formality changes.

Where is “the” in this sentence? Why is there no word for “the” or “a”?

Indonesian does not use articles like “a/an” or “the”. Whether you translate kopi panas itu as that hot coffee, the hot coffee, or that cup of hot coffee depends on context, not on a specific word.

In Saya suka rasa kopi panas itu:

kopi panas = hot coffee
itu = that

So kopi panas itu roughly means that hot coffee / the hot coffee over there / that specific hot coffee. There is no separate word just for “the”.

Why is the phrase rasa kopi panas itu in that order? Why not rasa itu kopi panas?

Indonesian noun phrases usually follow this pattern:

Head noun + modifiers

Here:

rasa = taste (head noun)
kopi panas itu = of that hot coffee (modifier phrase)

So rasa kopi panas itu literally feels like the taste (of) that hot coffee.

Putting itu earlier as rasa itu kopi panas is ungrammatical / very unnatural. Itu (that) normally comes at the end of the noun phrase it modifies:

kopi itu = that coffee
kopi panas itu = that hot coffee
rasa kopi panas itu = the taste of that hot coffee

Can I say Saya suka kopi panas itu without rasa? Does it change the meaning?

Yes, you can, and it is very natural.

Saya suka rasa kopi panas itu.
Focus: the taste of that hot coffee.
Saya suka kopi panas itu.
Focus: that hot coffee in general (maybe its taste, but also maybe the drink itself, the experience, etc.).

In everyday conversation, people often say Saya suka kopi panas itu unless they specifically want to highlight the taste/flavor. Using rasa makes you sound a bit more precise or descriptive.

What does rasa mean exactly, and is it a noun or a verb here?

In this sentence, rasa is a noun meaning taste or flavor.

Common meanings of rasa:

Taste / flavor
- rasa manis = sweet taste
- rasa kopi = the taste of coffee
Feeling / sense (more abstract, often in combinations)
- rasa lapar = feeling of hunger
- rasa sakit = feeling of pain

Related words:

merasa (verb) = to feel / to sense
perasaan (noun) = feeling(s), emotion(s)

So rasa kopi panas itu = the taste of that hot coffee.

What is the nuance of suka here compared to words like cinta or gemar?

suka is the most common and neutral way to say to like.

suka = to like (wide use, casual to neutral)
- Saya suka kopi. = I like coffee.
cinta = to love (strong emotional or romantic love)
- Saya cinta kamu. = I love you.
- Saya cinta Indonesia. = I love Indonesia.
gemar = to be fond of / to enjoy (a bit more formal or “bookish”)
- Saya gemar membaca. = I enjoy reading.

In this sentence, saya suka rasa kopi panas itu simply means you like the taste. Saying Saya cinta rasa kopi panas itu would sound exaggerated or humorous.

What exactly does itu do here? How is itu different from ini, and when can I omit it?

itu is a demonstrative meaning roughly that (farther from the speaker or already mentioned).

ini = this (near the speaker)
itu = that (farther away, or already known in the conversation)

So:

kopi panas ini = this hot coffee (near you)
kopi panas itu = that hot coffee (over there, or the one we’re talking about)

Omitting it:

kopi panas = hot coffee (in general, not a specific one)
Saya suka rasa kopi panas. = I like the taste of hot coffee (in general).

Including itu points to a specific hot coffee (or specific situation) that both speaker and listener can identify.

Why is it kopi panas, not panas kopi? What is the usual order for adjectives?

In Indonesian, adjectives usually come after the noun they modify:

kopi panas = hot coffee
kopi manis = sweet coffee
rumah besar = big house
buku baru = new book

So the normal pattern is:

noun + adjective

Panas kopi is not the right way to say hot coffee. You might see panasnya kopi (the heat of the coffee) or kopi itu panas (that coffee is hot), but in a noun phrase like hot coffee, you need kopi panas.

Does panas ever mean “spicy,” like chili-spicy, or only “hot” as in temperature?

panas primarily means hot (temperature, weather, objects):

kopi panas = hot coffee
cuaca panas = hot weather

For spicy (chili-hot), Indonesian uses pedas:

makanan pedas = spicy food
sambal ini sangat pedas. = this chili sauce is very spicy.

So kopi panas is understood as hot coffee (by temperature), not spicy coffee.

How do I know if this sentence is present, past, or future? Could it mean “liked” or “will like”?

Indonesian verbs do not change form for tense. Saya suka rasa kopi panas itu can mean:

I like the taste of that hot coffee. (present / general)
I liked the taste of that hot coffee. (past)
I will like the taste of that hot coffee. (less common, but possible from context)

To make the time clear, you usually add a time word:

Tadi saya suka rasa kopi panas itu. = Earlier I liked the taste of that hot coffee.
Sekarang saya suka rasa kopi panas itu. = Now I like the taste of that hot coffee.
Nanti saya pasti suka rasa kopi panas itu. = Later I will definitely like the taste of that hot coffee.

How can I say “I really like the taste of that hot coffee” in Indonesian?

You can intensify suka with words like sekali, sangat, or colloquial banget:

Saya sangat suka rasa kopi panas itu. = I really / very much like the taste of that hot coffee.
Saya suka sekali rasa kopi panas itu. = I really like the taste of that hot coffee.
Aku suka banget rasa kopi panas itu. (informal) = I really like the taste of that hot coffee.

All of these sound natural; sangat and sekali are neutral, banget is casual/slangy.

Does this sentence refer to just one coffee, or could it mean coffee in general? How do plurals work?

By default, kopi is number-neutral: it can mean coffee in general or a coffee / some coffee depending on context.

In Saya suka rasa kopi panas itu, itu makes it sound like one specific hot coffee (or one specific type / brand / cup that both people know).

If you wanted to emphasize plural, you could say, for example:

Saya suka rasa beberapa kopi panas itu. = I like the taste of those several hot coffees.
Saya suka rasa semua kopi panas itu. = I like the taste of all those hot coffees.

But in most real situations, kopi panas itu will just be taken as that (specific) hot coffee without stating singular/plural explicitly.

Is Saya suka rasa kopi panas itu polite and natural to say? In what context would I use it?

Yes, it is polite, neutral, and natural Indonesian.

You might use it:

At a café, talking to a friend or to the barista:
- Saya suka rasa kopi panas itu. (e.g., the one you just tried)
Commenting on a specific coffee you had earlier:
- Waktu di kafe itu, saya suka rasa kopi panas itu.

With friends, an even more natural casual version is:

Aku suka rasa kopi panas itu.
Or simply Suka rasa kopi panas itu. (if context is clear)

Using saya keeps it neutral–polite and appropriate almost anywhere.