Quick answer: Singapore’s coffee scene has moved way beyond kopitiam. These seven roasters and cafes show what happens when people get serious about the bean. Nylon Coffee Roasters is perfect for purists; Apartment Coffee feels like a quiet escape; Bearded Bella nails brunch and brew together. Whether you want a quick espresso or a lazy afternoon with a filter, this list has a spot that fits.
The kopitiam uncle pours his kopi-o with a flick of the wrist while, one estate over, a single-origin bloom clocks thirty seconds on a scale. The old Singapore of 3pm coffee breaks hasn’t vanished—it’s just moved indoors, into shophouse roasteries and void-deck units where extraction ratios feel like scripture. For the reader who remembers a quieter city, these spaces bottle what’s slipping away: unhurried mornings, conversation, and a perfectly measured cup.
Best Cafes, Coffee & Breakfast in Singapore is the parent list here, with 28 guides covering everything in this area.
For a different kind of warm cup, our list of finest tea brands in Singapore covers the leaf side of things.
Nylon Coffee Roasters
Nylon Coffee Roasters operates out of a modest unit in Everton Park, just a short walk from the bustle of Chinatown. They roast on site and have been at it since 2012, working directly with farms in South America. The menu changes with the harvest, and you’ll often find a Uganda Omuhwera with dried tropical fruit notes or a floral Ethiopia Tulise in the hopper. Their subscription service sends freshly roasted beans to your door every month, and they donate 1% of revenue to environmental causes, so your morning cup does a little good. Expect to pay a little more for beans with this kind of traceability—the kind of place where the staff will happily talk your ear off about processing methods if you ask.
Stand in the Everton Park void-deck queue before 11am, when the morning light hits the roasting drum just right. The Uganda Omuhwera tastes of dried tropical fruit against the hum of the Probat. This is for the drinker who wants a subscription and a quiet corner, not a parade.
Address: 4 Everton Park, #01-04, Singapore 080004
Phone: +65 6220 2330
Hours: Mon–Fri 8:30 AM–4:30 PM, Sat & Sun 9 AM–4:30 PM (closed Tuesdays)
Website: Nylon Coffee Roasters
If you’re the kind of drinker who wants to know the farm and the altitude, Nylon will be your place. It’s a small space, so come ready to perch at the counter and talk coffee.
Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee
Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee in Stirling Road bridges old-school kopi heritage with the precision of modern specialty coffee. The late Mr. Tan Tiong Hoe started it, and the place still feels like a family-run spot where you can pick up beans from all over. Their Yuzu Soda + Coffee, with a double ristretto and sparkling yuzu, is a refreshing twist for a hot afternoon. Sign up for a workshop to understand your brew better, or just leaf through their buying guide at the counter. They occasionally run promotions like the SG60 1-for-1 deals. Beans are priced by weight—grab a bag and they’ll grind it for you. Great for home baristas who want to learn as much as drink, and for anyone who appreciates a kopi that honours its roots.
The late Mr. Tan’s old-school kopi heritage lingers in every cold brew bottle. Come mid-afternoon on a Stirling Road scorcher, when the Yuzu Soda + Coffee cuts the heat with a double ristretto and sparkling citrus. The workshops are where you start to understand why your pour-over at home never quite tasted the same.
Address: 170 Stirling Road, #01-1133, Singapore 140170
Phone: +65 8958 1133
Hours: Mon–Fri 8 AM–4:45 PM, Sat, Sun & PH 8:30 AM–4:15 PM
Website: Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee
We keep these lists updated by hand. If you run something that fits, get in touch before the next revision.
Dutch Colony Coffee
Dutch Colony Coffee has outposts dotted around the island, but their main roastery in Defu Lane is where the magic starts. They run house blends alongside rotating single-origin espressos like the berry-sweet La Candelilla Estate from Costa Rica. They also run Katalyst Workshops if you want to nerd out on pour-over technique, and they supply other cafes too, so the beans have street cred. A cup here is reliably good without breaking the bank, and they have artisanal baked goods and bagels to go with it. Pick this one when you want a consistent, no-fuss specialty coffee in a comfortable setting—or if you’re building your home setup and need wholesale beans.
The industrial calm of the Defu Lane roastery is where the day’s magic starts; by noon, the berry-sweet La Candelilla Estate is slipping into espressos across the island. It’s for the drinker who wants a reliable cup and might secretly want to run a cafe themselves one day.
Address: 127 Defu Lane 10 #02-03, Singapore 539234
Phone: +65 6281 0710
Hours: Mon–Fri 9 AM–5 PM
Website: Dutch Colony Coffee
Bearded Bella
Bearded Bella in Tanjong Pagar is where a champion barista meets a full-on cafe kitchen. Co-owned by 2016 Singapore National Barista Championship winner Regina Tay, the shophouse space pours house blends and single-origins alongside food that actually earns its place on the plate. Their Chocfee is a creamy, chocolate-heavy iced drink that’s dangerous on a hot day, and the spiced scrambles with truffle accents are legit. Acai bowls with chia pudding and hazelnut butter round out the brunch options. It’s more of a brunch budget, but the coffee alone is worth the stop. Come here when you want your caffeine with a side of something substantial—the shophouse setting is a bonus for catching up with friends.
The Tanjong Pagar shophouse hums with the quiet confidence of a 2016 champion behind the machine. The Chocfee is a creamy, chocolate-heavy iced drink that feels like an old-school milkshake reborn. Come for the spiced scrambles, stay for the pour-over flight that makes you rethink your afternoon routine.
Address: 8 Craig Road, Tanjong Pagar, Singapore 089668
Phone: +65 9880 0775
Hours: Mon–Fri 7:30 AM–5 PM, Sat, Sun & PH 7:30 AM–6 PM
Website: Bearded Bella
Chye Seng Huat Hardware (CSHH)
Chye Seng Huat Hardware on Tyrwhitt Road is hard to miss—it’s a beautifully kept Art Deco shophouse that used to be a hardware store, now pouring some of the city’s best brews as the flagship of PPP Coffee. Inside you’ll find a roastery, coffee bar, and workshop spaces. The courtyard out back is a rare quiet spot in the Jalan Besar area, and they stay open late enough for after-dinner coffee. Cakes and cold brews keep the tables happy. Prices are what you’d expect for a flagship space—higher than a kopitiam but reasonable for the experience. This is great for a lazy weekend when you want to linger, or for impressing out-of-towners who appreciate a good story with their flat white.
The Art Deco facade still reads like a hardware store, but inside, coffee bar chatter has replaced the clang of tools. The courtyard at dusk is a rare Jalan Besar stillness—order the cold brew, claim the lone bench, and watch the shophouse shadows stretch long. They stay open late enough for a second cup.
Address: 150 Tyrwhitt Road, Singapore 207563
Phone: +65 6299 4321
Hours: Daily 8:30 AM–10 PM (closed every first Monday of the month)
Website: Chye Seng Huat Hardware
Rookie’s Coffee Shop
Rookie’s Coffee Shop in Bukit Merah is a small, white-tiled space run by an Aeropress champ, so you know the extraction will be on point. Helmed by the 2019 Singapore Aeropress Champion Junior, they sling micro-roasted beans from Colombia, Ethiopia, or Kenya, plus the iced Bandung ‘Spro—a rose-infused latte that tastes like someone finally understood the assignment. The nostalgic Swiss rolls and zesty lemon bars are the kind of thing your grandmother might have made, if she was into specialty coffee. Prices are gentle, and portions generous for the area. This is a neighbourhood joint that takes coffee seriously but never gets snobbish about it—come as you are.
The white-tiled space in Bukit Merah is small enough that the Aeropress extraction is swee within minutes. The iced Bandung ‘Spro tastes like a rose-infused memory done right, not a gimmick. Go before the nostalgic Swiss rolls sell out—they vanish by lunchtime, just like the silence before the rush.
Address: 123 Bukit Merah Lane 1 #01-112, Singapore 150123
Contact: Reach out via contact form
Hours: Mon 12 PM–5 PM, Tue–Fri 10 AM–5 PM, Sat & Sun 10 AM–6 PM (closed every last Sunday of the month)
Website: Rookie’s Coffee Shop
We keep these lists updated by hand. If you run something that fits, get in touch before the next revision.
Apartment Coffee
Apartment Coffee along Selegie Road was named sixth best coffee shop in the world this year, and you can taste the care in every cup. The space is minimalist almost to a fault—it forces you to focus on the coffee, which is always presented beautifully. They run monthly whole-bean subscriptions and in-studio brews on seasonal menus, plus workshops on home brewing and espresso fundamentals. Prices are on the higher side, especially if you subscribe, but the quality matches the ranking. For a quiet solo coffee or an intimate chat where no one’s rushing you out, this is the spot.
Along Selegie Road, the room is so sparse that the first sip of a washed Ethiopian lands like a secret. This is the spot for the drinker who’s tired of noise, who wants a monthly whole-bean subscription and a workshop that teaches you to slow down. The minimalism here forces a pause this city rarely grants.
Address: 139 Selegie Road #01-01, Singapore 188309
Contact: Reach out via contact form
Hours: Daily 10 AM–6 PM
Website: Apartment Coffee
And if you’re looking for something sweet with your coffee, our guide to the finest kueh in Singapore might be just the thing.
How to choose
Each shop on this list pulls a different crowd. If you geek out over single-origin clarity, head straight to Nylon or Apartment. Want to build your home brewing chops? Tiong Hoe and Dutch Colony run workshops worth your Saturday morning. Craving a full-on brunch with your flat white? Bearded Bella is the one. CSHH gives you heritage vibes and evening hours, while Rookie’s offers a playful, local spin that feels like a well-kept Bukit Merah secret.
On price, expect to pay anywhere from five to eight dollars for a filter coffee, and a little less for an espresso. Beans by the bag usually start around fifteen and go up from there, depending on the origin and rarity. Most places sell retail bags and offer a subscription if you fall in love with a particular roast.
| Coffee Shop | Known For | Must-Try | Food Available? | Subscription Option |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nylon Coffee Roasters | Direct-trade single-origins | Uganda Omuhwera or Ethiopia Tulise | No | Yes |
| Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee | Workshops and heritage | Yuzu Soda + Coffee | Check with the business | No |
| Dutch Colony Coffee | Consistent house blends | La Candelilla Estate from Costa Rica | Yes (baked goods, bagels) | No |
| Bearded Bella | Brunch and specialty coffee | Chocfee, spiced scrambles | Yes (full brunch menu) | No |
| Chye Seng Huat Hardware | Art Deco heritage space | Cold brew, cakes | Yes (cakes) | No |
| Rookie’s Coffee Shop | Inventive local flavours | Iced rose-infused latte, Aeropress brew | Yes (lemon bars, brownies, Swiss rolls) | No |
| Apartment Coffee | Minimalist, world-class brews | Seasonal filter coffee | No | Yes (whole bean) |
Summary
Whether you’re after a quick espresso from Nylon, a lazy brunch at Bearded Bella, or a quiet hour at Apartment, Singapore’s coffee shops have something that hits the spot. These seven represent the best of what the city’s coffee community has to offer—no two alike.
Disclaimer: All information provided here has been compiled from publicly available sources. While we have made every effort to ensure accuracy, we do not guarantee that the information is complete or error-free. Details can change, so confirm opening hours and offerings with the business before heading down. If you find any errors, please let us know.
Frequently asked questions
Which coffee shop is best for single-origin beans?
Nylon Coffee Roasters and Apartment Coffee both focus heavily on single-origin offerings. Nylon rotates its menu with harvests and sells subscriptions, while Apartment presents seasonal menus in a minimal space.
Are there any coffee workshops available?
Yes. Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee and Dutch Colony Coffee run workshops on brewing and espresso fundamentals. Apartment Coffee also offers classes on home brewing and espresso basics.
Do these coffee shops sell beans for home brewing?
Most do. Nylon, Tiong Hoe, Dutch Colony, Bearded Bella, CSHH, and Apartment all sell whole beans or ground-to-order bags. Nylon and Apartment also have subscription services.
Which shop has good food with coffee?
Bearded Bella is the standout with a full brunch menu featuring spiced scrambles and acai bowls. Dutch Colony and CSHH offer baked goods and cakes, and Rookie’s has nostalgic Swiss rolls and lemon bars.
What’s the general price range for specialty coffee here?
Expect to pay around five to eight dollars for a pour-over or filter coffee, and a little less for an espresso. Beans typically start from fifteen dollars a bag, rising for rarer lots.
Which coffee shop is open the latest?
Chye Seng Huat Hardware stays open until 10 PM daily, making it the best bet for an after-dinner coffee. Bearded Bella closes at 6 PM on weekends, and most others shut by 5 or 6 PM.
