17 January 2015

The Tiny Roaster

Singapore January 17, 2015 0

From the Classical style through the Gothic and the Rococo period, architecture has come a long way. The 21st century is probably the Hipster Period, because everywhere I look, from Melbourne to Singapore, I see restaurant designs which sets my hipsters-alarm a-tinkling. There will be large communal tables (invariably wooden), dangling lightbulbs, inspiring messages and whimsical paintings. Frankly, I love everything about it, and could spend ages walking around the interior of those restaurants. Except I'll probably get in the way of the staff who'll probably tell me to get my ass back to my seat. So I just sit forlornly at the table and crane my neck around and around. Hipsters and I have a love-hate relationship.

A sure sign that the hipster design is catching on is when I see eateries around my place with such a design. And The Tiny Roaster, a dedicated coffee joint that sprung up in my old neighbourhood 10 minutes away from West Coast Plaza, was a sure sign that the Age is upon us all.

When I walked in, the scent of freshly roasted coffee was so strong, I knew we were in for a treat. For a joint that is self-described as 'Tiny', it sure packs a wallop and has rightly earned a place in my heart. So serious they are about their coffee that they serve no food here. If you're looking for a muffin or a slice of cheesecake, you're in the wrong place. This is for hard-core coffee lovers only.

There's seats for not more than a dozen people at a time, and I was amazed to find that the place was packed. But the auntie-instinct is strong in me, and we secured one of the last two remaining tables.

Dangling lights, check. A communal wooden table that doubles as the counter, check. A friendly, soft-spoken, hamsum barista with a French beret and totally devoted to his craft, check. Bonus points for the blackboard menu.

We ordered an Iced White Brew ($5) and a Black Brew (House Blend: The West Street) ($5).

The barista brewing the Black Brew. I should have made a beeline for the communal table to see their skills up close.

The Black Brew was a cup of coffee sans milk or sugar. I'm not sure how to best describe it; it was similar to a Long Black, but without the bitterness. The taste grew on me, and I recalled hearing from my friend who studied in Amsterdam that they drink their coffee black too. But we were noobs, and asked for sugar about halfway through the cup.

The Iced White Brew is 'White' because it contains milk, as we later learnt. It was served on top of a slab of granite, presumably to protect the wooden table from condensation. It was pretty good too, with a giant floating coffee ice thingy in the shape of a sphere. The coffee ice slowly melted, and along with the narrow straw, showed that the drink was clearly meant to be slowly sipped and savoured. It was smooth with an intense coffee flavour, and none of the bitterness.

The Iced White Brew was perfect, right until I got to the end of the cup. I crunched on the ice, which had a sour aftertaste not unlike a medicine broth from a TCM cookbook. I actually double-checked with the barista that it was indeed coffee. Maybe it wasn't a good idea to have coffee in the freezer, on account of the high humidity level. They could have taken a leaf out of Old Green Bean, and use a scoop of frozen sweetened cream for their iced beverages instead.

I know it is a dedicated coffee joint, but I found myself wishing they had something to nibble on too. Nothing fancy, maybe a slice of flourless chocolate cake, or a small selection of muffins. Or a chocolate truffle or two, which would compliment their terrific coffee so well.

The Verdict: I love this place. The vibe is so chill and laid-back and quiet, I could see this as part of a fortnightly ritual. The atmosphere was so pleasant, and the staff so friendly and dedicated, that I would be back. I have found my coffee place. It is so characteristic of the atmosphere of coffee joints of Melbourne. Miss XS and I actually blinked when we step out of the place. I could hardly believe such a place existed in Singapore. And surrounded by HDB flats, no less.

The Tiny Roaster has huge potential, and I was pleasantly surprised by how popular it is with the so-called heartlanders. It showcases the best of what Singapore has to offer: a team of young, talented entrepreneurs who show that with dedication, they can change what the locals think of artisan coffee. Self-described as being 'in the heartlands of Singapore', The Tiny Roaster is content to do just what it does best: roasting and blending small batches of coffee beans, and selling high-quality coffee. If you're in the area, don't give this a miss.