From The Straits Times    |
singapore coffee festival

singapore coffee festival

Foodie pop-ups are becoming dime a dozen, but this one is curated with coffee lovers in mind.

The first ever Singapore Coffee Festival takes place from June 10 to 12 at the F1 Pit Building, and it is quite literally a one-stop shop for everything to do with the roasted bean.

You can get educational and learn all about coffee brewing at the workshops; shop for beans, gadgets and coffeeware; and sip on coffee – both the old school kopi variety as well as espresso-based drinks – to your heart’s content. Entertainment’s aplenty with live music and open-air movie screenings, and there’s even a Shiseido Parlour to give your skin some TLC. 

They’ve got more than 100 exhibitors on the list, and a dizzying programme of activities, so we’ve picked out the highlights for you.

 

THE COFFEE
Whether you’re a casual coffee drinker or an all-out coffee geek, there’s something for everyone. Kick back with espresso-based coffees and pourovers from the likes of Common Man Coffee Roasters, Smitten, and The Pourover Bar, or get experimental with the shimmering Gold Brew from Dapper Coffee and stout-like Nitro Cold Brew from Chye Seng Huat. If it’s a more traditional taste you seek, hit up the Killiney Kopitiam booth for your kopi fix. 

Ready your cameras too for some gorgeous latte art. If cute animal designs set your heart aflutter, make a beeline for Mavrx Coffee Apothecary. Or if your heart’s on classic rosettes, you’ll want to look out for Ryan Tan at Strangers’ Reunion. 

 

THE FOOD
This is the mother of all cafe hopping experiences. It’s pretty much a convention of the city’s most popular cafes and bistros, conveniently located in one building to take you from brunch to dessert. You’ve got the likes of Antoinette with their multi-flavoured collection of croissants, Symmetry with lip-smacking inventions like Mentaiko & Cheese Beignet and Crab & Sweet Corn Fritters, The Golden Duck and their super addictive salted egg yolk chips, and Common Mon Coffee Roasters’ foodporn-worthy Turkish Breakfast of Phyllo-wrapped molten egg on a bed of hummus and pita. 

Better yet, book a seat for the ST, Coffee & Company experience ($60/person), a tasting menu curated by The Straits Times food editor, Tan Hsueh Yun. There are two sessions, each featuring a different set of creative grub such as Salted Egg Yolk Cream Puff, Espresso-infused Crackled Pork, Coffee Pork Chop Bun, and Acai Parfait. 

 

THE WORKSHOPS
Want to get your basics right? Get a 60-minute lowdown at “An Introduction to Specialty”, or nurture your inner barista at the “Fundamental Barista Skills” class. Check out “Latte Art Demo with Caleb Cha” if you want to oggle at the intricate patterns by the 2015 World Latte Art Champion, or sign up for the “Coffee & Chocolate” session to learn how to pair the two. 

 

THE ENTERTAINMENT

Local takes centrestage for the entertainment line-up at the inaugural Singapore Coffee Festival. It’s got indie acts like Pleasantry, Charlie Lim, and Inch playing through the weekend. And after dusk, settle in for the al fresco screening of films such as Royston Tan’s getai-centric “881”, and “7 Letters”, a poignant clutch of shorts by seven local directors. 

 

THE RETAIL THERAPY
Sign-up for a coffee delivery subscription with Hook Coffee (they’ll grind the beans to suit whatever apparatus you use, from mokapots to aeropress, and they’ even have capsules too), or grab a bag from Tiong Hoe & Company if you lean towards kopitiam-style blends. If you’re ready to make an environmentally friendly commitment to ditch paper cups for reusable coffee cups, you’ll want to take a look at those pretty pantone-coloured ones from Keep Cup. Tott’s got a booth too, if you’re looking to add some nifty gadgets to your collection. 

(Psst. For those of you who have had bad memories of melting under the unforgiving heat at outdoor events at the F1 Pit, you’ll be happy to know that the Coffee Festival is fully air-conditioned, except for the outdoor movie screenings.) 

June 10-12, 11am-9pm, F1 Pit Building, 1 Republic Boulevard. $18 for a one-day general pass (entry is free for most workshops), $43 for a VIP pass (access tothe VIP lounge, complimentary drinks and canapes, and espress entry to the festival) . http://sgcoffeefestival.com.sg