There’s a new kid on the block. Equate Coffee has just joined Tanjong Pagar’s extensive stretch of cafes and I have to say they’re a strong contender. It’s located at Tanjong Pagar Plaza, which is a slight walk away from the MRT station, but that makes the reward all the sweeter.
Its immaculate sheet of white and grey reminds me of %Arabica. Not to mention, the math symbols that make up the cafe’s logo. It also happens to be roughly the same size as the %Arabica’s Bugis branch, with about 8 tables of 2, resulting in a short queue at the entrance.
A Nutty Blend
Equate Coffee uses a blend of Brazil and Sumatra beans for their espresso-based drinks.
The Iced Latte (S$6) had an intense nutty undertone with a touch of chocolate in the background. I appreciated the thinner consistency of the coffee. Certainly a refreshing treat on a hot day.
Meanwhile, the Iced Mocha (S$6.5) had a generous topping of chocolate drizzled at the base, accentuating the richness of the drink. The baristas at Equate Coffee add in ice before pouring the shot of espresso on the chocolate. This makes for a more aesthetic photo but just remember to take a stirrer afterwards or you’ll end up with a skewered taste.
Caneles and Cakes
According to the baristas, the Canele (S$4) and Mount Ondeh (S$7) are their permanent items, with one rotating item which happened to be Earl Grey Cake (S$4) on my visit.
First of all, not impressed by the plating since everything was dumped onto a tray. But, I do understand that it’s for the sake of convenience given how constricted the cafe was. If I’m not wrong, this is a common practice in some Korean cafes too, such as the famed Onion.
Anyway, back to the taste and texture of the bakes. The exquisite French pastry, Canele, was disappointing. Too thick and chewy of a crust with a seemingly under-baked interior.
Thankfully, the other two were decent enough to salvage the experience. The Earl Grey Cake had a moist, spongey texture. Although it was slightly too sweet for my preference (I have the palate of an old man so the sweetness level should be acceptable for most), there was a strong enough sharpness from the earl grey infusion.
Lastly, Mount Ondeh featured a mountain-shaped pandan cake with Gula Melaka drizzle and coconut flakes. While the sponge cake was a tad dry, there was a good amount of syrup to moisten the dessert. The flavour profile was also skewered towards the Gula Melaka. Perhaps, the intensity of the syrup was too strong as I felt that there was a decent amount of syrup. But, I would like to taste more of the pandan and especially, the coconut flakes.
Verdict
The ambience and space are usually huge deciding factors as I prefer having the luxury to chill in the cafe or to have a conducive environment for the grind. But, evidently, the lack of space at Equate Coffee renders that impossible without attracting death stares from hangry and impatient foodies. That being said, the be-back factor here lies within the coffee. It’s easily become one of my favourite cup of coffee in Tanjong Pagar and I would gladly get a cup to-go.
Location: 1 Tanjong Pagar Plaza, #02-25, Singapore 082001
Opening hours: 8:30am – 5:30pm (Mon – Fri); 8:30am – 3pm (Sat); Closed on Sundays
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