Baristart Coffee review – Does Hokkaido milk actually taste better?

Tanjong Pagar has tons of coffee houses and cafes, so when Baristart Coffee prides themselves on their premium Hokkaido milk, it begs the question — does it actually make their coffee taste nicer?

The short answer is — yes.

Is Baristart Coffee’s milk coffee good

To answer if their coffee is worth paying for, we have to first understand what type of premium milk Baristart Coffee is using.

BIEI Jersey Hokkaido Milk is milk imported from Biei, a town in Hokkaido. It’s touted for its extra creamy mouthfeel and richness. We’ve had it by itself when we were in Hokkaido before, and it is elite compared to brands like Cowhead, Meiji and Greenfields, which are the more common brands that cafes in Singapore use.

BIEI Jersey milk coffee ($7.5)

But, what happens to the taste when you mix it with coffee?

Without a doubt, it loses some of its nuances. But the BIEI Jersey milk coffee ($7.5) did taste slightly creamier than a regular iced latte.

Is it just a placebo effect though? You’d have to try it for yourself.

Either way, $7.5 for an iced coffee is pretty reasonable for Singapore’s standards, especially for a cafe in Tanjong Pagar.

For some reason, this drink is only available for dine-ins. Hence, if you’re looking for takeaway, you can still opt for their Flat White, Latte and Cappucino at from $6.

When you’re ordering Baristart’s espresso-based coffee, you can select from three of their house blends. The Baristart Blend is balanced, slightly nutty.

Meanwhile, the Mild blend has a mocha-like taste and texture.

Lastly, if you prefer a more intense coffee aroma can opt for the Kenya Nyeri Aa blend, which has a more acidic body.

How was the food at Baristart Coffee?

Their desserts include Shaved Ice, traditional Japanese Anmitsu, soft-serves and waffles.

I ordered their Cream Puff ($4.5) and the size of it really surprised me. It was bigger than my fist! The puff was very fluffy and light, with a crunchy enough exterior; similar to Beard Papa’s standards. And the cream was divine. Milky, creamy, with a very subtle citrus note to counter the decadence.

Location: 65 Tras St, Singapore 079004
Opening hours: 10am-10pm

Looking for the best cafes in Tanjong Pagar? Check out our review on:

Colman Cheung

There are pros and cons when being friends with Colman. You get good food recommendations and the occasional candid shots between taking snaps of the food. But there’s also the mandatory 15-minutes waiting time and the constant whining of how your noodle pull sucks. He’s also a sucker for coffee.