Where to find the best coffee in Singapore

When it comes to getting a caffeine fix in Singapore, you won’t ever be found wanting. This island nation has a storied history with Nanyang coffee (locally referred to as kopi), where robusta beans are roasted with sugar and margarine for a caramelly and creamy cup, and rounded out with condensed or evaporated milk.

In the 2000s, third-wave coffee surged in Singapore and the specialty scene has never looked back. An ever-growing crop of small coffee shop owners brood over every detail, from sourcing the best, sustainable beans to drilling into precise brewing techniques.

Whatever your preference, there’s no better time to discover Singapore’s buzzing coffee scene. With lots to choose from, whittling it down is a tall order, but here are our must-visit refuel pit stops all across the island.

Alchemist

Best for: Discovering different coffees in well-designed shops
Location: Various
Price: Espressos from 3.50 SGD

This is one of Singapore’s fastest growing specialty coffee shops, and they have wonderfully kept up with the consistency. The open secret lies in a team of baristas who are seasoned competitors at coffee brewing competitions. Alchemist hopes to make coffee approachable for everyone by simplifying its menu – offering white and black coffee, instead of an endless list of permutations. Should you be particular about the beans, it offers a choice of bright, balanced or bold taste profiles. An array of pastries, from croissants to danishes, are also available at most locations. Even though there are numerous Alchemist outposts around the island, each design-forward shop is unique. A personal favourite would be the Heeren outlet along Orchard Road, where a serene timber pavilion with miniature Japanese rock gardens awaits.

Double Shot Coffee

Best for: Incredible coffees form international roasters
Location: 19 Kampong Bahru Road, L1, Singapore 169348 and 70 Shenton Way, #01-05 Eon Shenton, Singapore 079118
Price: Espressos from 3.50 SGD

Despite being around for five years, Double Shot Coffee’s founder continues to elude many of his customers. Chester Kang has intentionally stayed low-key as he considers his stellar team the face of the business. Apart from a tight-knit crew and top-notch brews, Double Shot is renowned for its rotating roster of international roasters, from France’s Kawa Coffee to Scotland’s Obadiah Coffee and Shanghai’s Fu Roastery. Its Kampong Bahru shophouse offers the full Double Shot experience, where discreet interiors allow the coffees to shine through. The best spot is by the bar, where you get a front row seat to the meditative hand-pour experience and a chance to learn more about your drink. For takeaways, head to Double Shot’s Shenton Way outlet in Singapore’s Central Business District.

Zerah Coffee Roasters

Best for: Fruity and funky coffees
Location: 465 North Bridge Road, #02-5063, Singapore 191465
Price: Espressos start from 4 SGD

A trip to Japan opened founder Brandon Foo’s eyes to coffee as a craft, an attitude that extends to his own Zerah Coffee Roasters. The perfect cup here is vibrant and sweet with a touch of acidity, made with light roasts (all roasted in-house) so as to retain the bean’s character. If you’re interested in unconventional coffees, this shop would be up your alley with its variety of fruity and funky flavour profiles on offer. There’s a tight selection of house-made baked goods like scones and banana loaves too, all made to pair perfectly with the coffees. Set on the second floor of an old-school public apartment block, this hidden gem is a short walk away from the Michelin-starred Hill Street Tai Hwa Pork Noodle shop, making it a lovely post-lunch hideout.

Generation Coffee

Best for: Nanyang-inspired specialty coffee
Location: Various
Price: Coffees from 1.50 SGD

Located in multiple hawker centres around Singapore, Generation Coffee was born from Zender Wong and Kenneth Lim’s desire to bridge the gap between traditional and specialty coffee in Singapore. As traditional Nanyang coffee is hand-pulled and strained through a sock, getting a great cup is often a hit-or-miss affair that’s dependent on the brewer. To overcome this, Generation’s coffees are pulled using an espresso machine to maintain consistency, and served with condensed or evaporated milk, keeping Singapore’s coffee heritage alive. Zender and Kenneth craft a blend of Vietnam Robusta and Brazil Arabica beans for a chocolate and almond finish, wondrously replicating the bold and intense flavours of Nanyang coffee. A range of beans and milks are also available, which means digging into your favourite hawker dishes while enjoying artisan coffee is no longer a distant dream.

Apartment

Best for: Light-roasted pour-overs
Location: 139 Selegie Road, #01-01, Singapore 188309
Price: Coffees from 5.50 SGD

This light-drenched coffee shop is made for slowing down and partaking in the simple joys of an aromatic brew. Founded by former Singapore Brewers Cup champion Qing He Yeo in 2018, Apartment has a loyal following for its light-roasted, single origin pour-over coffees. The exceptional brews are a result of Qing He’s team poring over every detail, from the varietal curation to using different water filtration systems for its espresso machine and pour-over coffee. On occasion, Apartment holds coffee workshops by guest baristas (such as Patrik Rolf from Copenhagen’s April Coffee) and pop-ups featuring small-batch bakers.

Homeground Coffee Roasters

Best for: Learning about and tasting exceptional coffees
Location: 55 Kim Chuan Drive, #01-01, Singapore 537098
Price: Espressos start from 4.50 SGD

Homground’s location may be tucked within Tai Seng – an industrial neighbourhood unfamiliar to most travellers – but it’s well worth your while. Co-founder Elysia Tan is a three-time Singapore Brewers Cup champion and came in third place at the 2022 World Brewers Cup. The ethos of this roastery is to help everyone brew in their own home, supported by a team that is happy to share best practices and tried and tested recipes. While Homeground is currently takeaway only, it holds intimate coffee experiences on weekends, where you’ll get to taste different kinds of drinks using specially sourced beans, such as Gesha from Panama’s El Burro Estate or Papayo from Colombia’s Jardines Del Eden farm. This is also a great opportunity to ask the staff anything and everything coffee related.

Fluid

Best for: An off-the-beaten-track spot for remarkable coffee
Location: 24 Opal Crescent, Singapore 328418
Price: Espressos start from 5 SGD

Having only opened last year, Fluid might be seen as a new kid on the block, but at the helm is the experienced team behind specialty retailer Double Up Coffee. The founders are finicky about preserving the intrinsic qualities of green coffee, whether that’s the Bolivian Caturra’s sweet and citrus notes, or the Ethiopian 74148’s floral notes, and they roast the beans onsite. Fluid’s pour-over coffees are delicate and clean, while its espresso-based drinks strike a balance between the intensity and clarity of the various flavour notes. Set up as a casual community space, the shop’s simple interiors and eclectic mix of loose furniture create a flexible venue for bar takeovers from international roasters, like Noon from Taipei and One Half Roastery from Kuala Lumpur.

Kurasu Singapore

Best for: Japanese specialty coffee craftsmanship and hospitality
Location: 261 Waterloo Street, #01-24, Singapore 180261 and 1 Grange Road, #01-03, Singapore 239693
Price: Espressos start from 3.50 SGD

If you’re a fan of Kyoto specialty coffee brand Kurasu (Japan’s poster child for melding traditional Japanese craftsmanship with modern coffee techniques), you’ll be pleased to discover its Singapore outpost. The beans here are roasted at Nishijin Roastery in Japan before being shipped to Singapore. Over the years, the flagship shop along Waterloo Street has built a name for its light roasts, warm hospitality and convivial atmosphere, particularly after a major overhaul. The welcoming space is decked with lime-washed walls, microcement flooring and Karimoku New Standard furniture. When in need of reprieve from the tropical heat while exploring Singapore’s Bras Basah Bugis neighbourhood, Kurasu is the place to be. Its Grange Road outlet is better suited to takeaways.

Nylon Coffee Roasters

Best for: Quality, sustainably sourced coffee from an OG
Location: 4 Everton Park, #01-40, Singapore 080004
Price: Espressos start from 3.50 SGD

A communal table anchors Nylon Coffee Roasters’ hole-in-the-wall shop in Everton Park, embodying its desire for coffee to bring people in the neighbourhood together. Opened in 2012, this is a third-wave pioneer in Singapore. Founders Dennis Tang and Jia Min Lee are not only masters of their craft, but have set the standard for sustainability and transparency: Nylon is a 1% for the Planet member and reveals the prices it pays for green coffee. Dennis and Jia Min have fostered a direct and close relationship with producers through regular trips, where they purchase all their beans directly from coffee farms and cooperatives.

The 1950’s Coffee

Best for: Traditional Nanyang coffee
Location: Chinatown Complex Market & Food Centre, #02-048, 335 Smith Street, 050335, Singapore
Price: Black coffee starts from 1 SGD

It would be remiss to leave out a Nanyang coffee joint in this list, given its rich traditions. The 1950s Coffee, as its name suggests, has been around for decades, and continues to be a popular local spot. You’ll likely have to queue for a bit, but what follows is a fragrant, full-bodied and velvety smooth kopi. If you’re feeling adventurous, try ordering like a local by customising your coffee order: mention “kopi-c” for evaporated milk instead of condensed milk, “kopi-o” for black coffee or “kopi siew dai” for less sugar (find the full rundown here). For the complete local breakfast experience, pair your coffee with a side of soft-boiled eggs and kaya toast.

Maxi Coffee Bar

Best for: Light-roasted espressos and hearty food
Location: 6 Ann Siang Hill, Singapore 069787
Price: Espressos start from 5 SGD

Set in a heritage shophouse, Maxi Coffee Bar has steadily established itself as a friendly neighbourhood spot. The affable service combines with a laser-focused dedication to its coffee craft, where founders Joy Cheng and Denise Lum are fastidious about the entire value chain, such as purchasing the best beans from only sustainable sources. Maxi’s espressos are lightly roasted and are pulled with slow shots ( taking up to two minutes) to extract the flavour-packed layers and render a delicate mouthfeel. The food menu is equally memorable – everything is made fresh and mostly in-house. When in doubt, all-time favourites include the kaya butter toast (even the kaya jam is homemade), banana bread, and mortadella ham and cheese sandwich.