Singapore’s Third Wave is an interesting thing. Singapore coffee culture is closely linked with kopi from the kopitiam (kopi means coffee in Malay while tiam means shop in Hokkien). Coffee is strongly integrated in Singaporean culture where it’s an amalgamation of east and west. While Starbucks and other Western coffee brands thrive in Singapore, true locals and the working class will drink the $1.50 kopi from the kopitiams. Coffee is already an integral piece in Singapore’s culture where every tourist will definitely partake in.
One of the earliest Third Wave coffee innovators in Singapore is Papa Palheta (who runs CSHH). While kopi is a staple drink for locals, the third wave coffee shops is all about experience. This is where interested parties will meet and talk about coffee. From the science of coffee bean roasting to the art of preparation, the customer is not just an outsider but an integral part of the process. Coffee is prepared in front of you like a true artisanal piece. Singapore, from an outsider, feels like a concrete jungle with so much towering building and fast paced life. Everyone is rushing to their workplace and running towards the buses or MRTs. Singapore’s third wave coffee is a complete opposite to that. It’s not a race to finish the drink like a mechanical thing but a slow walk to appreciate the coffee. It’s a reminder that Singapore is also a city of parks. A city of trees and greens where people can take a breather and relax. A reminder that there will be days where kopi is not just drink but an experience.
Chye Seng Huat Hardware Coffee. 150 Tyrwhitt Rd, Singapore 207563
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