If you’ve never had Common Man Coffee Roasters, you’d never be able to understand the hype.
Yes, we get it. When any food establishments start opening new branches, you’ll start to worry about the quality. With more outlets means more business considerations, which eventually results in a lower food quality.
But, with six outlets islandwide, Common Man Coffee Roasters (CMCR) have been consistently one of the best brunch cafes in Singapore, since we’ve first had it in 2019.
Here’s why it deserves the hype, and also what dishes we’ve tried and recommend.
Why is Common Man Coffee Roasters so popular?
Two reasons why CMCR is so loved by Singaporeans: good brunch and even better coffee.
It’s usually either one or the other, and it’s rare to find a cafe in Singapore that does both so well.
What we ate at CMCR
Popular items include the Turkish Common Man Breakfast ($29), Chilli Chicken ($32), and Umami Mushroom Avocado Toast ($25).
These dishes have been around for ages, so I’m going to keep my review short.
The Turkish Common Man Breakfast stands out from the typical breakfast plates with its crispy feta, green hummus and fresh herbs. Truly a refreshing change of pace. Meanwhile, the Chilli Chicken was incredibly tender for chicken breast.
CMCR’s new dishes at Martin Road do not disappoint as well.
The Rainbow Rice Bowl ($30) comprises a healthy mix of nutrients, with organic brown rice, pinapple kimchi, sweet potato chips, grilled chilli chicken and some other toppings. While it sounds like one of those bland meal prep lunch boxes, this was the most flavourful dish out of their three new dishes.
It was spicy, tangy, sweet and salty. Absolutely loved how the different elements came together so harmoniously. Bonus points for cooking up such a tender piece of chicken too!
Speaking of chicken, you have to try their Crispy Fried Chicken ($16) as well — four huge pieces, all perfectly seasoned. It was so umami, almost like har cheong gai, but not really.
For a lighter dish, opt for their Breakfast Pancakes ($26), which are served with scrambled eggs and crispy bacon. The eggs are topped with chilli and burnt feta, giving it an extra savoury boost. I’ve never seen cafes in Singapore do this before, but they should take a page from CMCR because it’s such a genius combination.
Coffee at CMCR
Whether you’re a black coffee drinker or a sweet coffee drinker, CMCR’s drink menu can satisfy you.
For the sweet coffee lovers, try out their new Speciality Iced Drinks.
Going Bananas ($9) is a liquified banana pie. I know, banana desserts have a bad reputation for tasting artificial. But you don’t have to worry as CMCR makes their own banana syrup, which ends up tasting more of a caramel, with only a whisper of banana. Pairing it with a shot of espresso and coconut milk, this unique new drink will have you going bananas for it literally.
Next, Beet Box ($9.5) pairs beetroot, raspberry, pomegranate and dragonfruit with their cold brew. You get a refreshing, slightly earthy profile. But the coffee is quite lacking here.
But, if you’re a snobbish coffee connoisseur like I am, you’re probably going to order one of their filter coffee. Of which, we recommend their single origin from Mt. Argopuro from East Java, available as of July 2024.
It was so juicy and fruity. Once the coffee cooled down, an astringency similar to Tie Guan Yin is present in the aftertaste. This was such an interesting profile, and I highly recommend going down for it before they switch it out.
For non-caffeinated options, CMCR Chocolate & Orange ($9.5) is the perfect sweet treat to go with the brunch. It’s a creamy and thick iced chocolate, elevated with coconut and orange foam.
Where is CMCR located?
Aside from their flagship store at Martin Road, CMCR is also located at Joo Chiat, Sentosa, Chinatown, Queenstown and Orchard.
Location: 22 Martin Rd, #01-00, Singapore 239058
Opening hours: 7:30am-6pm
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