Coffee no longer serves as a morning ritual to wake people up. For caffeine connoisseurs, coffee drinking has transformed into a sort of art or craftsmanship that has given birth to many artisanal coffee shops that offer more than just the regular black. Across Singapore, locals have a variety of cafes to choose from, each giving their own distinct tribute as homage to this beloved drink. From roasting to brewing to serving, coffee shop owners give their patrons an extra treat by ensuring that they get the best kick out of their coffee drinking inside their well-designed cafes. Here are some of our favourites.
1. Baristart Coffee
Address: 65 Tras Street, Singapore 079004
Opening hours: 10:00 AM to 10:00 PM daily
Run by a team of Japanese baristas, Baristart Coffee is a lifestyle café that offers a full-range menu. Of course, their main attraction is their coffee menu. Hailing from Hokkaido, Japan, Baristart Coffee prides itself for serving up top quality BIEI Jersey milk together with their coffee concoctions. Baristart Coffee sure knows how to play with all the senses of their customers. How? Imagine the combination of the taste of a cup of their rich flavoured coffee coupled with the scent of its aroma, plus the shop’s minimalist interior that looks calming to the eyes—your senses are in for a treat!
2. Chye Seng Huat Hardware – CSHH Coffee Bar
Address: 150 Tyrwhitt Road, Singapore 207563
Opening hours: 9:00 AM to 10:00 PM Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday; 9:00 AM to 12:00 AM Friday and Saturday.
You might be confused about why a hardware establishment sells coffee, right? The back story is that this building actually houses a coffee supplier (Papa Palheta, now known as PPP Coffee) and one of its retail arms, CSHH Coffee Bar. The CSHH Coffee Bar is the heart and flagship store of PPP Coffee. Aside from serving a robust menu of coffee beverages, customers who frequent this shop can also watch how their favourite drinks are prepared from bean to cup. If you want to bring CSHH’s coffee to brew at home, the shop also has a display of a wide variety of coffee products. Not only that, but they also sell excellent accessories and equipment for brewing coffee.
3. Common Man Coffee Roasters
Address: 22 Martin Road, #01-00 Singapore 239058
Opening hours: 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM Weekdays; 7:30 AM to 6:00 PM Weekends.
The common man always deserves to get the best coffee, don’t you agree? That is definitely what this coffee shop is all about! CMCR has partnered with Five Senses Coffee to bring in excellent coffee to Singapore. The management of CMCR commits to promoting sustainability and fair-trade in all of their products. Beans are sourced directly from international coffee growers, some of which are based in Brazil, Ethiopia, and Sumatra, to ensure quality. The beans are flown in and roasted locally in Singapore. CMCR has 2 unique house blends loved by its patrons: the 22 Martin and CMCR Espresso. Common Man Coffee Roasters is popular to both locals and tourists alike. If you’d like to bring your passion for coffee to another level, you can also take classes in their Academy!
4. Strangers’ Reunion
Address: #33-35 Kampong Bahru Road, Singapore 169355
Opening hours: 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM daily
Strangers’ Reunion is the fruition of two friends’ desire to open up a café that offers the best cup of coffee along with excellent service experience. Hence, the café’s doors opened back in 2012, with a range of specialty caffeine fix ready for their customers. Strangers’ Reunion serves coffee that is sourced from global coffee producers. To ensure that they only provide the best beans and services, Strangers’ Reunion keeps connections with other café owners and baristas. Aside from that, patrons can rest assured that what they are drinking come from well-trained staff—Strangers’ Reunion has several awards up their sleeve to prove that. Stranger or not, this coffee shop will definitely make your reunion with coffee be an experience to remember.
5. Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee
Address: #01-1133 170 Stirling Road, Singapore 140170
Opening hours: 8:30 AM to 5:30 PM Weekdays; 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM Weekends and Public holidays.
“Better coffee, for all.” This is what drives Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee to provide only the highest quality of coffee beans and equipment to their customers. Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee started in Singapore’s coffee industry as a wholesaler of beans and supplier of coffee equipment to F&B establishments across Singapore. The café came about in 2014 when people started flocking in their office asking for a taste of the sweet aroma of coffee that they were roasting. Currently, Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee is home to about 20 various origins of specialty coffee harvested from different parts of Asia, Africa, Central America and South America. Get your caffeine fix from Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee and expect to be served up with coffee that is not good, but better!