Iced coffee? No, thanks. MIA CHENYZE prefers her java more refined and less acidic, from coffee grounds gently steeped in cold water overnight. Here are the best of the 20 she sipped.
Iced coffee? no, thanks. prefers her java more re?ned mia chenyze and less acidic, from coffee grounds gently steeped in cold water overnight. here are the best of the 20 she sipped.
KENYA AA RIAKIBERU
Brewed with Kenya AA Riakiberu beans.$7 (200ml), from Maison Ikkoku Cafe, 20 Kandahar Street, tel: 6294-0078
The cold brew delivers that much-needed jolt from the moment you uncap the bottle, and makes good on the promise of an intense caffeine hit and voluptuous fullness. But intriguingly, it didn’t have the usual puckering effect of other strong coffees. Magic.
Best for: Kopi-gao (thick coffee) lovers.
COLD BREW ORGANIC COFFEE
Brewed with organic coffee beans. $6.50 (250ml), from The Shop by Hic, #02-470 Suntec City Mall (north wing), tel: 8123-9311
The coffee is brewed with ionised water but has a remarkable pristine quality that reminded me of spring water. There’s also a faint raw taste to it, almost a little grassy, that’s balanced by the subtle sweetness.
Best for: Black-coffee beginners.
KENYA COLD BREW
Brewed with Kenya AA Riakiberu beans. $8 (250ml), from A.R.C Coffee, 29 Sultan Gate, tel: 6291-6863
The quirky-looking light bulb-shaped bottle first caught our eye, and the coffee’s subtle caramel undertones and oral notes sealed the deal for us. It’s light-to-medium bodied, with a soft acidity that makes it exceptionally easy to drink. It has a “clean” taste, without the usual siap aftertaste.
Best for: Black-coffee beginners.
PERK UP
Brewed with Finca Isnul and Plan Del Guayabo beans from Guatemala, and Tanzania Karatu beans. $7 (220ml), from The Daily Roundup, #01-02, 1 Keong Saik Road, tel: 9780-2920
There’s a lovely freshness to this cold brew, with its citrusy notes. But take your time drinking it and you’ll discover a pleasant nuttiness and oaky nuances which complement its medium-bodied mouth feel.
Best for: Regular black-coffee drinkers.
TAISHO BLACK
Brewed with single origin beans from Sumatra. $6 (300ml), from all Oriole Coffee + Bar outlets, including #01-01 Pan Paci c Serviced Suites, tel: 6238-8348
It is medium-bodied with a faint yeasty scent, almost like when you take a first whiff of cider. The sweet aftertaste – there’s a smidgen of sugar syrup in this – makes it quite beginner-friendly, for those not used to black coffee. For purists, a non-sweetened version is available too.
Best for: Black-coffee beginners.
THE WAKE UP CALL
Brewed with Guatemala Finca Isnul beans. $6 (350ml), from Stamping Ground Coffee, #01-02, 31 Club Street, tel: 9070-7610
We were pleasantly surprised by the refreshing hints of green apple in the aroma. It’s full in the mouth and not too sour, with just a slight astringent quality in the nish.
Best for: Regular black-coffee drinkers.
EL SALVADOR SHANGRI LA
Brewed with El Salvador Shangri-La beans.$7 (250ml), from 7Kickstart, 71 Bras Basah Road (inside Singapore Art Museum), tel: 8389-7877
Anyone who is partial to peaty whisky will swoon over this one. It’s smoky with tobacco-like layers from the get-go. Who knew coffee could taste like this? And yet, the coffee is very smooth, with barely an edge of sourness, which makes for really easy drinking.
Best for: Whisky lovers.
