A few months ago, my friend introduced me to an Instagram account that belongs to a Singaporean food blogger, ladyironchef. I was amazed at its contents and started using it as reference whenever I go to cities around Asia, especially Singapore. I found this blog very helpful when it comes to searching for some of the best coffee in a foreign land…
Fast forwarding my way to just a few weeks prior, I found myself craving for a cup of coffee in Singapore. Finally, I managed to find some time, got into a cab and went to Chye Seng Huat Hardware (CSHH for short)!
Chye Seng Huat Hardware
Finding CSHH is not easy at first, especially for tourists, since this coffee shop is not situated in a tourist-friendly area. For first timers and non-adventurous type of tourists (like me! LOL!) I suggest that you take a cab and get connected to a GPS as much as possible, since many of the taxi drivers aren’t even familiar with the street’s name. However, thanks to a taxi uncle, I got a tip that will save you from confusion! Just tell the taxi driver that you want to go to Tyrwhitt Road (that’s right. Tyrwhitt. ^^), near the Jalan Besar Stadium. From there, it should be much, much easier.
CSHH is the brainchild of a Singaporean micro roaster known as Papa Palheta. CSHH is one of the two shops owned by Papa Palheta. The CSHH complex also included a training facility called C-Platform, a one-stop shop called The Annex, and an impressive roasting facility equipped with multiple roasters called simply as The Roastery.
CSHH doesn’t look like a coffee shop. It looks like a hardware shop from the 20th century! In fact, I would’ve missed it if I didn’t double check the address. However, once I entered through the garage door, I found something completely different…
As I entered the coffee shop, I was welcomed by a posh and hip atmosphere. This shop definitely has a modern feel to it. However, there are some retro accents that can be easily spotted here, like the gramophone that was situated near one of the windows.
The centerpiece of this coffee shop is the bar, which is located in the center of the shop. The bar is oval-shaped and a big portion of the seating area is situated around it. I personally like this kind of setting since I can see all the barista action! This kind of setting also maximizes interaction between baristas and customers, letting baristas listen to customer feedbacks.
CSHH is powered by not one, but two Synesso espresso machines. That’s right folks! Synesso is known for being one of the best espresso machines in the market. It produces great coffee, and it looks sleek. Besides the Synesso, I also notice that CSHH uses automatic doserless grinders. I think that this is good since these grinders will ensure a much more consistent grind compared to their semi-automatic counterparts.
Instead of using specific names like a “cappuccino” or “latte”, CSHH decided to use the term coffee + milk differentiated by size for the majority of their hot drinks. Though this might be confusing at first, I think that this kind of system will reduce the risk of argument over how a specific coffee drink should be made. If you’re confused which one to pick, just tell the baristas what you’d like to drink and they’ll pick the right size for you.
The espresso in this shop is noteworthy. It has a balanced body and a pronounced nuttiness. Towards the middle of the cup, there’s a lemony and citrusy acidity in the espresso. The acidity will increase in strength towards the end of the cup. Though this doesn’t sound very special (at least for me), I still like this espresso since it is very well-balanced when mixed with frothed milk. One of the most balanced house blends in my opinion.
The cappuccino in this shop is also exceptional, in my opinion. The espresso is perfectly pulled and the milk is frothed just right. The outcome of this fine work is a smooth, creamy cup with a hint of sweetness from the milk. There is a presence of nuttiness thanks to the espresso, but I can’t spot any excessive bitterness. What a great cup of coffee!
CSHH also offers food and cakes. However, I won’t be discussing it this time since I didn’t order any of them. Even though I’ve had it before, I forgot how it tastes. From what I can remember, their cakes are great and somehow those cakes complemented the coffee. LOL!
Anyways, being in CSHH is a great experience. They are very passionate in what they do and are committed to give its customers the best coffee experience that they can offer. I think that CSHH represents more than just a posh and hip hangout-slash-coffee shop. For me, it symbolizes progression. Progression from the kopitiam culture that is so Singaporean towards a newer, more refined ways to explore and appreciate coffee. Just like CSHH, which has an old exterior with a modern interior, coffee, an ingredient that SIngapore loves, something old and familiar, has gotten a new twist. It is indeed an experience of discovering the “new old” at Chye Seng Huat Hardware! Salud! ^^
Chye Seng Huat Hardware
150 Tyrwhitt Road
Singapore 207563
Tel: +6563960609
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