Singapore Coffee Festival 2016 – Cafe Trail For All Coffee Lovers!

The Singapore Coffee Festival (SCF) 2016 will be Singapore’s first coffee centric festival, a unique hybrid event for both trade and consumer visitors. This year’s event will be held from 9 to 12 June 2016 at the F1 Pit building, with 9 June being a media & trade preview day and 10 – 12 June being opened to the public.

It will be an exciting festival first for coffee lovers who want to learn more about what goes into making a good cup of coffee, as well as those who enjoy café hopping and the café lifestyle. Besides being a one-stop shop for those interested in all things coffee, there will be a wide range of brewed drinks, beans, gadgets and machines available for purchase.

In light of the first edition of the upcoming Singapore Coffee Festival 2016, we were invited for a café-hopping trail prior to the event. The trail took us to some cafes which are participating in the festival as official exhibitors to give us a slight taste of what to expect during the festival itself!

Kicking off the trail at Oriole Coffee + Bar, you will get to sample signature dishes and coffee, as well as witness demonstrations by professional baristas such as Latte Art. Get buzzed with a glass of caffeinated cocktail at the last stop – a perfect way to complete the trail.

Started in December 2008, Oriole Coffee + Bar founded on the love for coffee and pioneering the third wave coffee movement in Singapore. Following its successful launch they have introduced Oriole Coffee Roasters, roasting 6 to 12 kinds of specialty coffee beans imported from countries such as Brazil, Ethiopia, Coasta Rice etc. They have another outlet in Capitol piazza, extending its coffee options to those in the city.

During the cafe trail, we have tried some of their brunch menu and particularly love their Grilled Truffle Cheese Sandwich with grilled butter brioches bread stuffed with truffle cheese, emmental cheese and oak smoked cheddar. Served with tomato soup, it is a great breakfast option. For something more premier, the Crab Cake Benedict may work for you. The two poached eggs is served with Maryland-style crab cake, toasted English mufffins and drizzled with a tangy lemon dill hollandaise. Other brunch options include Smoked Salmon Rosti, Mango French Toast and Wild Berries Oastmeal.

Tucked away in Singapore’s far east, The Coastal Settlement is a vintage themed casual dining restaurant serving western cuisine and local favourites amidst the greenery and lets you have a peek of Changi’s tranquil coastline. Besides serving excellent coffee, be sure to try their straight cut truffle fries and Australian wagyu cubes with mushroom salsa. The Spicy Tom Yum pasta had a fiery kick and filled with fresh prawns, squid, mussels and clams. Our makan kakis were snatching for the Wagyu Beef and Mushroom Thin Crust Pizza with caramelised onions and white wine reduction cream sauce. The star is definitely Chicken & Waffle that is served with huge and juicy crispy chicken. We love the seasoning which makes it irresistible!

PAUL, founded in 1889, offers a selection of country-style and fancy bread, viennoiserie (croissants, etc.) pastries, cakes and desserts, snacks and sandwiches. All of the products offered by PAUL are prepared to the same high standards which have made French bread famous the world over. What is the secret ingredient of PAUL’s success? A respect for tradition.

For my last stop at the cafe trail, I have tried a range of desserts such as salted caramel choux, coffee eclair, lemon cream tartlette, chocolate cream tartlette with PAUL Singapore hot chocolate. The banana cinnamon crumble tart is specially created for Singapore Coffee Festival and will be launched for the first time there.

What to expect at Singapore Coffee Festival 2016?

– Over 100 exhibitors
There are over 100 exhibitors including leaders and pioneers in Singapore’s coffee and lifestyle scene. Specialty coffees purveyors such as Common Man Coffee Roasters, Chye Seng Huat Hardware, Dapper Coffee and Knockhouse Supply Co, will be displaying their wares as well as bringing their fan favourites to the festival. Killiney Kopitiam will represent Singapore’s Hainanese coffee traditions with their kaya, toasted bread, rich kopi and tea.

– Lab Sessions for those who are really into coffee
Run by Common Man Coffee Roasters, the Straits Times, and Bettr Barista, the Lab Sessions will cover workshops on all things coffee, such as Latte Art and Fundamental Barista Skills; panel discussions with champion baristas as well as women in the industry; and seminars on finance, photography, and more.

– Got music anot? Of course lah!
On the entertainment front, there will be live music stages that will showcase the hottest local acts, curated by fabulous festival creative consultant Daniel Boey.

– You can try out Shiseido products at the festival too.
Shiseido is the festival’s “Official Beauty Partner”, who will be setting up The Shiseido Parlour. A beauty pop-up area, the Parlour will serve Japanese confectionaries direct from Ginza to visitors. Festival visitors will have opportunities to try out Shiseido products whilst relaxing at the Parlour, munching on the Shiseido Parlour Cheese cake and Ganache.

– Where to buy tickets?
Tickets are currently on sale from SISTIC (www.sistic.com.sg / (65) 6348 5555). Advance General Entry 1-Day passes from $13 are available for the public. Limited DBS Exclusive 1-Day passes at $11 are available, while stocks last. All tickets include a complimentary goody bag that can be redeemed at the festival grounds. For truly consummate coffee lovers, limited 3-Day passes and VIP packages with benefits such as access to VIP lounge, a complimentary drink & canapés, and express entry at festival gates are also available. More information can be found on http://sgcoffeefestival.com.sg/.