“You can’t judge a cup of coffee by it’s latte art,” says no one.
With a steady stream of cafes popping up, it is getting increasingly harder to find the perfect cup of coffee. Hence, we have curate the ultimate guide on the best places for coffee in Singapore.
1. Venture Drive
One of the best coffee house in Singapore, Venture Drive houses a diverse selection of coffee beans.
This third wave coffee bar in the west stands out with its Columbia Andres Guaca Natural Rum Aged Pink Bourbon. Specialists use a unique processing method where coffee fruits are aged in rum barrels. Their baristas are also skilled. Ever cup I’ve had delivers the tasting notes it promised.
Its only flaw — its location in the far ends of pulau NTU.
Location: 50 Nanyang Avenue, North Spine Plaza #NS3-01-13,Singapore 639798
Opening hours:
Mon-Fri: 8am-5:30pm
Sat-Sun: Closed
2. Percolate
A quaint cafe situated in Bedok North, Percolate earns a spot on this list with its consistent extractions. Furthermore, their single origin rotates seasonally, providing a new experience every visit. Personally, I’m a huge fan of their Peru, which is packed with chocolate undertones.
Percolate’s coffee starts from $3.5 for an Espresso and $4 for a cup of flat white. You can also order a 1l bottle of coffee to enjoy at home over the week.
Even the small bites were good. The croissants, flakey as they were, came in unique savoury flavours, such as smoked salmon and wasabi, and laksa with fishcakes.
Meanwhile, for sweets, we recommend the moist and rich Sticky Date Pudding ($8.9), packed with a mellow, floral sweetness from the dates.
Location: 136 Bedok North Ave 3, #01-152, Singapore 460136
Opening hours: 9am-7pm
3. Maxi Coffee Bar
Located at Telok Ayer, Maxi Coffee Bar bears a preppy aesthetic with its soothing blue walls and vintage ornaments.
Espresso-based drinks and coffee are on the menu, but you have to try their signature Cereal Milk Cold Brew ($8.5) and Oat Milk Cold Brew ($7.5).
Enjoy your coffee with their affordable toasts, including a classic Kaya Butter ($4.8) or a quirky Miso PBJ ($5.5); both featuring pillow-like soft milk buns.
Location: 6 Ann Siang Hill, Singapore 069787
Opening hours:
Monday: Closed
Tue-Fri: 8am-4:30pm
Sat-Sun: 9am-4:30pm
4. Pyroast
For uncommon roasts, head down to Pyroast — I dare say, one of the most underrated places for coffee in Singapore.
You can find single origins from Yemen, the birthplace of coffee. Personally, I find that the flavour profiles here are a little more exciting compared to other cafes in Singapore.
They’re also equipped with the knowledge and skills to design a coffee omakase course, where you can enjoy coffee in the most unimaginable ways possible. However, the omakase course is only available upon request, on a case by case basis.
Location: Multiple locations
5. Big Short Coffee
Big Short Coffee is a new cafe in Joo Chiat that creates interesting coffee concoctions inspired by the four seasons.
Their coffee menu might change frequently. But to give you an idea of what to expect, their Happy Valley Punch ($8.5), combines a refreshing mix of coconut water as the base, and blood orange juice to elevate the flavours.
Meanwhile, their Bee’s Knees ($8) features a classic pairing of strawberries and coastal wildflower rare honey with coffee.
Location: 2 Fowlie Rd, #01-01, Singapore 428505
Opening hours:
Monday: 8am-5pm
Tuesday: Closed
Wed-Sun: 8am-5pm
6. Acoustics Coffee Bar
Making a name for themselves in Singapore’s coffee community, this brunch cafe has just begun roasting their own coffee beans.
On the hopper, the Brazil single origins promises a mix of floral and fruity mix of orange and black tea, with a syrupy finish. Personally, I prefer it as a black, but it’s good either way.
Acoustics Coffee Bar is located along Neil Road (pet-friendly) and Owen Road.
Location: 61 Neil Rd, Singapore 088895
Opening hours: 8:30am-5:30pm
7. Apartment Coffee
Apartment is unalike any coffee houses. High-quality brews are one thing; their Ethiopia ($8) promises passion fruit, stewed peach and mango sensory notes. But it was its homely vibes that set it apart from other cafes in Singapore
As their philosophy is ‘Every Coffee Tells A Story’, they have installed a long bar table to encourage interaction between the baristas and customers. But, if you want some private time, separate tables are available.
Location: 139 Selegie Rd, #01-01, Singapore 188309
Opening hours: 10am-6pm
8. Old Hen Coffee Bar
Located in Farrer Park, this coffee house specialises in cold brews.
In general, Old Hen Coffee Bar uses a lighter roast for their coffee. With a distinct floral note, it renders their Black Cold Brew ($6.5) more palatable for those who dislike the bitterness of americanos. On the other hand, their White Cold Brew ($6.9) had a milkier flavour and a mellower taste, resembling milk coffee.
Location: 88 Rangoon Rd, #01-03, Singapore 218374
Opening hours: 9:30am-6:30pm
9. Zerah Coffee Roasters
A good digital scale and something is a must to brew the perfect cup of coffee, but the baristas — or scientists ‚ at Zerah Coffee Roasters take it a step further by marrying coffee extraction techniques with thermodynamics, chemistry and data analysis.
This process, while seemingly over-the-top, fully extracts the notes of grape candy, cherry and dark chocolate from the Arufa from Papa New Guinea, and the peach, lemon and lavender nuances from the Shoondhisa from Ethiopia.
Location: 465 North Bridge Rd, #02-5063, Singapore 191465
Opening hours:
Monday: Closed
Tue-Fri: 10am-4pm
Sat-Sun: 10am-5pm
10. Calligraph Coffee
Located at Bugis, Calligraph Coffee might be famous for their matcha, but their baristas can brew a solid cup of coffee as well.
Coffee is priced at $5 for a Black, $6 for a White, and $7.9 for Filter Coffee.
You can find interesting single origins from India on the hopper, promising notes of grapefruit, cherry and dark chocolate, as well as seasonal offerings like the crispy and juicy single origin from Yunnan, China.
Meanwhile, for matcha lovers, the cafe houses high quality ceremonial grade matcha from as affordable as $7.2. Imported directly from Kagoshima Japan, you can choose between Zen, a strong robust umami variant, or Miyabi, which has a more delicate and nutty profile.
Location: 7 Fraser St, Duo Galleria, #01-57, Singapore 189356
Opening hours:
Mon-Fri: 7:30am-5:30pm
Sat-Sun: 9am-6pm
11. Common Man Coffee Roasters
For one of the best brunches to pair with your coffee, you’ve gotta head down to Common Man Coffee Roasters (CMCR).
As one of biggest speciality coffee roasters in Singapore, you already know the coffee here can’t disappoint. And it only gets better with a solid brunch menu, serving both classics and innovative dishes.
Personally, CMCR at Anchorpoint is my favourite outlet as it offers the perfect setting to unwind and indulge. Picture yourself lounging in the sunlight that filters through the windows, as you savour your favourite cup of joe and their signature menu items.
Location: Multiple locations
12. Rookie’s Coffee Shop
They call themselves Rookies Coffee Shop, but the barista that helms this retro cafe in Queenstown is no rookie.
Their selection of single origin includes the Burtukaana Bombe from Ethiopia, which promises notes of red berries and honey, and Samii Bedessa, also from Ethiopia, perfect for filter brewing to unlock the notes of fresh peaches, Earl grey tea, and citrus peel.
Of course, this cafe in Queenstown is also famous for their speciality Iced Espresso Bandung ($6.5), a fascinating coffee that’s a treat to both the eyes and the palette. The floral notes of bandung and the full-bodied espresso melded perfectly together.
Location: 124 Bukit Merah Lane 1, #01-144, Singapore 150124
Opening hours:
Monday: Closed
Tue-Fri: 10am-5pm
Sat-Sun: 10am-6pm
13. Glyph Supply Co
Glyph Supply Co, a minimalistic white cafe cum co-roasting space, serves one of the best coffees in Singapore. Their repertoire extends from robust and punchy espresso-based drinks to delicately extracted filter coffee. For instance, their Andres Guaca single origin emanates fragrances of rum and dark chocolate.
For a complex yet palatable profile, we recommend their White Cold Brew ($6.5), extracting the smokey and spicy nuances from the Musfaha single origin, and sweetened with honey to layer on an ambrosial fragrance.
Location: 1 Venture Ave, #02 – 04, Singapore 608521
Opening hours:
Mon-Fri: 7:30am-4:30pm
Sat-Sun: Closed
14. Fahrenheit Coffee
To enter a state of zen, step foot into Fahrenheit Coffee. A coffee bar integrated into a spa along Beach Road, the place is furnished in wood, marble and faux fur.
Espresso-based coffee starts from $4 for a shot of espresso. Meanwhile, among the wide selection of single-origin for their filter coffee, the award-winning Ethiopian costs $12, promising a harmony of elderflower, grape candy and peach.
Location: 75 Beach Rd, #01-00A, Singapore 189689
Opening hours: 9am-6pm
15. %Arabica
Imported from Kyoto, Japan, %Arabica is easily recognisable by its minimalistic interior and giant percentage logo.
Lattes are priced from $7. Rather pricey, but it is worth every penny. They have an extensive list of blends and single origin to choose from and we recommend the Jose Julian Corea 158 blend from Nicaragua for its fruity and piquant tasting notes.
Location: Multiple locations
16. Brawn & Brains
Located along East Coast Road and Guillemard Road, Brawn & Brains offers two selections for their coffee.. Their Single Origin has a more balanced body, with a sweet after taste, while their House Blend has a nuttier note with a lingering aftertaste.
Lunch and breakfast are also available. Their crowd’s favourite, Oven-baked Molten Eggs ($16.8), features a cheesy, gooey baked eggs with cheese. Alternatively, get a croissant or two for a light mid-day snack.
Location: 218 E Coast Rd, Singapore 428916
Opening hours:
Mon-Tue: 7:30am-4:30pm
Wednesday: Closed
Thu-Fri: 7:30am-4:30pm
Sat-Sun: 7:30am-5:30pm
17. The Coffee Academics (Special Mention)
Ranked first in speciality coffee in the Frost and Sullivan Report, The Coffee Academics stands out with their avant-garde coffee formulas.
The Pepper Agave ($7.9) is elevated with honey, nectar and even pepper. The honey and nectar adds a touch of sweetness and a myriad of floral notes. Meanwhile, pepper, the unexpected guest, imparts a woody fragrance to the coffee.
Location: Multiple locations
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