Good Coffee In This Industrial Chic Cafe
(Ratings: On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 = Worst and 10 = Best)
Overall: 6
Ambience & Setting: 8
Food & Beverage: 7
Service: 6
Value for Money: 6
Spent about SGD $27 per person.
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Opened by the folks behind Papa Palheta and Loysel's Toy, Chye Seng Huat Hardware (CSHH) has gained rave reviews for its one-of-a-kind coffee concept bar. Featuring a Roastery and the C-PlatForm coffee school and private tasting room, Chye Seng Huat Hardware (CSHH) has established itself as a stalwart in the competitive coffee industry in Singapore since it opened in August 2012.
Much has been said about its unique exterior, a hardware store that Chye Seng Huat Hardware (CSHH) took over, keeping the run-down, retro industrial facade. Inside, Chye Seng Huat Hardware (CSHH) keeps the retro industrial chic theme, with worn metal finishings for decor. The centerpiece is the 360 degree coffee bar, where you can sit and interact with the baristas! However, actual floor space is rather limited and cramped, making dining indoors rather noisy and uncomfortable. I prefer the quieter, more spacious outdoor seating.
Chye Seng Huat Hardware (CSHH) is largely self-service, you'll have to queue to place orders and make payment at the counter. The only table-side service is when you order food, which is prepared in the back kitchen, then served to you. Otherwise, don't expect much conversation with staff, unless you sit around the coffee bar. And while orders are served quickly, I rather dislike having to wait 10 minutes or more in the queue.
Chye Seng Huat Hardware (CSHH) is known for their coffee, and they have a variety of coffee brewing equipment, all in the aim of producing that perfect cuppa. Chye Seng Huat Hardware (CSHH) is also known for their home baked cakes and pastries, their desserts tend to be rather good. However, the limited main courses on the menu, along with poor execution of dishes, make their food only average at best, decent, but not memorable. Portions are nicely sized for 1 person though, and prices are comparable to other cafes, costing about SGD $27 per person for a decent meal.
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The retro industrial chic appearance and decor is a novel idea, and a good talking point, but gets old fast because it lacks comfort within. Decor includes retro wooden furniture, rustic metal lamps, and industrial steel bars that double as retail shelves and partitions.
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| Chye Seng Huat Hardware Signage |
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| Chye Seng Huat Hardware Exterior |
The centerpiece is the huge 360 degree coffee bar, where you could supposedly sit and interact with the baristas, if they weren't so busy all the time. Otherwise, there is little reason to dine indoors besides the cool air-conditioning, the place is cramped and small. Seats aren't comfortable, and tables are rather rickety too.
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| Chye Seng Huat Hardware Interior |
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| Chye Seng Huat Hardware Counter |
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| Chye Seng Huat Hardware Seating |
The Chye Seng Huat Hardware Annex is where magic happens. Experiments with coffee take place here, using a variety of coffee brewing equipment.
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| Chye Seng Huat Hardware Annex |
The Latte (SGD $5.50), or Espresso With Milk as it's known here, is warm and silky smooth, with a fragrant aroma of roasted coffee beans, and a clean finish with very little bitterness. The precise latte art makes each cup beautiful, really excellent!
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| Latte Swan |
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| Latte Fern |
I think the Cold Coffee On Tap Nitro Black Matter (SGD $7) is among their standout coffee drinks here. Cold brewed, refreshing, smooth and silky, the coffee goes down so easily. The only drawback is the sharp bitterness at the end, that fortunately, doesn't linger on the palate.
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| Cold Coffee On Tap Nitro Black Matter 01 |
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| Cold Coffee On Tap Nitro Black Matter 02 |
The Pandan-Misu (SGD $6) is a pandan / screwpine leaf infused Tiramisu, which blends well with the taste of the coffee, and lends a rich, refreshing taste and aroma. Garnished with ginko nuts, this smooth, tasty fusion dessert is very good!
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| Pandan-Misu 01 |
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| Pandan-Misu 02 |
I liked the taste of the Strawberry Rhubarb Tea Cake (SGD $3), with its contrast of sweetness, tartness, and herb. You can actually taste the distinct layers of strawberry and rhubarb. The crumble is very good as well, with a slight crunch, and I detect a hint of salt, which helps cut through the overall sweetness of the dessert.
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| Strawberry Rhubarb Tea Cake |
The Grandma's Ginger Marinated Chicken With Asparagus & Spicy Tomato Sausage Chutney (SGD $16) is a rather average dish. While the chicken is meaty, with a smoky grilled aroma, it's also somewhat small in portion, and borders on dry. But I love the crisp, savoury skin, marinated with spices. The overall dish is sadly, rather oily.
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| Grandma's Ginger Marinated Chicken With Asparagus & Spicy Tomato Sausage Chutney 01 |
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| Grandma's Ginger Marinated Chicken With Asparagus & Spicy Tomato Sausage Chutney 02 |
A perennial favourite, the Crab Meat Aglio Olio (SGD $16) features chunks of fresh crab meat, tossed with spaghetti in a garlic, chili, and olive oil sauce. The result is an intensely fragrant dish, packed with flavour. No wonder it's a near constant on the menu. Highly recommended!
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| Crab Meat Aglio Olio 01 |
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| Crab Meat Aglio Olio 02 |
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CONVERSATION