Monmouth Coffee (Borough Market)

Monmouth Coffee has got to be the most well known independent coffee place and roastery in London. It’s huge reputation for serving a good cuppa coffee is evident from the massive queue lining the perimeters of its second shop in Borough Market.

Monmouth roasts and sells a huge variety of beans (cultivated in Ethiopia, Brazil, Guatemala, Costa Rica and many many more) which are neatly displayed under a glass panel. If you are unsure of the taste profiles of the coffee beans on display, you can always ask the staff for assistance, who will gladly serve you small cups of pour-over coffee (brewed on the spot) for tasting so that you can make a more informed decision on what beans to buy.

The amount of beans that you can buy is of your own choosing (although the recommended amounts are 250g, 500g and 1kg) and they will be immediately packed on the spot => The way the beans are displayed and sold are somewhat similar to how Famous Amos cookies are sold in Singapore.

Monmouth Coffee is a must visit for all coffee lovers!

Monmouth Coffee (Borough Market)
2 Park Street
The Borough
London SE1 9JA

Fernandez & Wells

Fernandez & Wells is a coffee establishment located at Somerset House, a major arts and cultural centre situated in the heart of London.

It’s interior is characterized by grandeur with rows of wine bottles lining the wall behind the counter. 

An amazing variety of sandwiches and pastries are also displayed on the counter.

Signature drink – Stumpy ( A shorter latte brewed using a blend of beans from El Salvador, Nicaragua and Ethiopia)

It is situated just in front of a central plaza which transforms into a skating ring come winter. This promises a spectacular sight for the patrons of Fernandez & Wells during winter.

Fernandez & Wells
Somerset House
Strand W2R 1LA

Plain Vanilla Bakery

Plain Vanilla Bakery offers – by far – the best cupcakes in Singapore. Enjoy their wonderfully crafted and tasty (moist and flavorful) cupcakes at 34A Lorong Mambong, Holland Village, Singapore 277691.

Nylon Coffee Roasters

An independent coffee roastery that is especially dedicated to roasting that perfect batch of coffee. They serve espresso and brewed coffee too. Check them out at 4 Everton Park, Singapore 080004.

Barista x La Marzocco

We See Junk!

 @ Craig Road

Chye Seng Huat Hardware.

Just recently, Papa Palheta launched the opening of Chye Seng Huat Hardware (CSHH), the second addition to its coffee/café business. Located near Jalan Besar Stadium and Lavender Food Court, CSHH is an amazingly huge coffee house which consolidates the processes behind serving that perfect cup of coffee all in one location. The coffee house is split up into various segments, each serving their own purpose:

1. Workshop (where faulty grinders, espresso machines etc. are sent to for repair)
2. Roasting Room (where raw green beans are roasted)
3. Packing Room (where roasted beans are packed for retail and wholesale)
4. C-Platform (where lessons in coffee making are conducted for the coffee enthusiasts)
5. Café
6. The Annex

The Annex

Bearing some similarities to the service concept of Tea Bone Zen Mind, The Annex offers 3-set courses starting with coffee then pastries and back to coffee again. With each session lasting about 1 hour ++, participants will get to enjoy (this depends on the menu which is not fixed) single origin coffee brewed using brewing methods such as the Syphon, Woodneck etc. and espresso blends. What’s more interesting is that participants have a close up view of how their coffee is brewed with step-by-step explanations, enhancing their coffee appreciation experience. Sessions (have to pre-book) start at 4pm daily.

Café

Upon entering the café, you will be greeted by a huge oval-shaped counter at the middle of the café (a layout that sushi bars usually adopt). The next thing that catches your eye would probably be the huge retail rack where coffee brewing equipments and coffee beans for sale are displayed. The café serves all-day breakfast, patties, sandwiches, pastries (produced from their own bakery – yes, they have their own bakery! – on the second floor), beer, tea and of course coffee.

CSHH is a wonderful coffee house/café that has the potential to lead the way in an increasingly vibrant coffee scene in Singapore. CSHH is probably the most robust coffee house with its numerous segments and sheer size. There is so much more that can be covered about CSHH and its highly recommended that you pay CSHH a visit! Oh, one more thing, their coffee beer (yes you heard right!) is a must try!

150 Tyrwhitt Road (S) 207563 Tel: 6396 0609. Opening hours: 9am – 7pm (Tues-Thurs), 9am – 10pm (Fri – Sun)

Obbi Good Label + Tuckshop Sundry Supplies.

Independent leather crafters are a rare breed in Singapore. Johnny, owner of Obbi Good Label, is one of the few leather crafting hobbyists in Singapore who managed to materialize his passion into a business. Tucked away in the middle of Kandahar Street, Obbi Good Label was set up in 2007. It specializes in selling leather products handcrafted by Johnny himself and his team of artisans and provides leather embossing services. It also offers customization services if you have your own designs in mind.

Johnny’s workspace is just a floor above the retail space, Tuckshop Sundry Supplies, which is where he displays his work. His workspace is also where classes are conducted for people interested in the art of leather crafting. He also supplies leather and leather crafting tools and gives much needed advice to people keen on making their own leather products. However this entitlement is only given to people who have attended his classes before. If you wish to kickstart your hobby in leather crafting, Obbi Good Label is a great place to start!

While admiring Johnny’s wonderful work, be sure to check out other boutique brands (Red Cloud Denim, Dry Bones, Iron Heart etc.)  that Tuckshop Sundry Supplies carries!

36A, Kandahar Street (s)198893. Tel: +65 6396 4568

All Good Things.

Located at a cosy corner of Rodyk Street (beside Kith Cafe), All Good Things is a bakery that prides itself on serving light and moist cakes which aren’t too sweet. The kitchen is in full view from the entrance and is where Allison does her wonderful work. All the cakes on display are freshly baked by Allison herself. All Good Things is a great addition to the area, complementing cafés such as Toby’s Estate, Kith and Smitten Coffee & Tea Bar.

7 Rodyk Street #01-30 (s)238215. Opening Hours: 11 am – 7pm (Everyday except Tuesdays)

My First Post

Through my lenses

Hello! In April this year, I was (lucky enough) to be given the opportunity to pursue my studies in London where I will be staying for 3 years. This blog will be about my adventures, my experiences and the things I sees as I explore the cities of the world (hopefully!)