I wouldn't have the balls to admit that I'm the coffee connoisseur. But having gone out for so many dates and outings, more often than not we'll sum up the night in a coffee place, topped up with my experience of having worked as a barista, I would say I have enough credibility to recommend some good gourmet coffee.
Gourmet coffee in STB's terms, refers to coffee prepared from coffee machines and syphons rather than your socks coffee in the neighbourhood kopitiams. That means your espressos, lattes, cappuccino, frappe and what-nots.
Just like how different people has different preference of saunas, it works the same for coffee places. Sotongball aims to provide a review of coffee places not based on their espresso quality, but based on the differentiation they offer. In no order of preference:
1. The Coffee Connoisseur
Intro: Well well, who would have expected this to appear first on the list? I think the BWers have chalked up enough spendings (SGD88 subtotal each) in TCC to get every regular a TCC card each. Easily the BWers' favourite after-dinner haunt (or only STB's for that matter)...
Selling point: TCC is the only chain that offers service in terms of Service Crew doing the whole SOP, from taking orders to billing), of course that incurs. They have a full menu, which includes food, desserts, non-coffee drinks and of course, coffees.
2. Starbucks
Intro: This one needs no introduction, Starbucks is probably the first that comes to anyone's mind when you talk about gourmet coffee. You'll find a lot of students hanging out in Starbucks outlets because the staffs will never come and bother you as long as you buy a cup of drinks. Frequent travelers will never go wrong with Starbucks because they're just everywhere.
Selling point: STB is still in love the Christmas drink, Mocha Praline (not in the menu but you can call for Mocha with Hazelnut syrup. I believe with UOB Visa Signature card, you'll be able to get a complimentary one-for-one latte.
3. Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf
Intro: Coffee Bean is not unlike Starbucks, with maybe some food menu but STB has never really fancied their food. The Coffee Bean Card offers member discounts in form of SGD22 credit for every SGD20 top up, and on top of that redemption points. Also drinks of the month gets a free upsize for Coffee Bean Card holders.
Selling point: There are quite impressive spread of cakes in Coffee Bean, the management probably spend more time churning out recipes for cakes of the month rather than drinks of the month.
4. Mc Cafe
Intro: McDonald's does not only want to conquer the fast food market, you can see there are a lot of McCafes sprouting out either within or next to the McDonald's outlet.
Selling point: Cheap coffee of comparable quality, you can almost buy 2 McCafe iced lattes for the price of 1 Starbucks iced latte (sans the Visa Signature promotion). A good place to hang out too if you're on a budget and need a place to sit long long.
There you have it, so don't complain there's no place to bring your date to after dinner because these outlets mentioned are just almost every where.
STB's tips to drinking espresso:
- Standing time of espresso is about 30 seconds, meaning if you don't finish it ASAP from the moment it is dispense from the coffee machine, it might turn sour.
- Do not sip it bit by bit, it's meant to be drank in one shot, that's why it's call single or double shot.
- Don't worry about making noise, in fact the louder the slurp the better. Making the espresso reach the bitter taste bud of your tongue (where it's closest to the throat) will allow you to taste the richness of espresso without compromise (or any coffee for that matter)
Sotongball always dreams of having his first full-fledge coffee machine at home, complete with milk steamer to make the perfect cappuccino with his own hand-picked blend of beans from Nepal, Jamaica, Java and whichever third world countries...
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