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2014-07-25
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Full Kaldi's Berry review here: http://ivanteh-runningman.blogspot.sg/2014/07/kaldis-berry-tasting-session.htmlFounded in October 2012, Kaldi's Berry has grown to be more than yet another artisanal coffee house for hipsters, to a true haven for coffee connoisseurs. Named after the legendary goat herder Kaldi who was said to have discovered coffee, Kaldi's Berry is a comfortable, relaxing place, perfect for romantic dates, business talks, and even group chill-outs! For serious coffee drinkers in
Founded in October 2012, Kaldi's Berry has grown to be more than yet another artisanal coffee house for hipsters, to a true haven for coffee connoisseurs. Named after the legendary goat herder Kaldi who was said to have discovered coffee, Kaldi's Berry is a comfortable, relaxing place, perfect for romantic dates, business talks, and even group chill-outs! For serious coffee drinkers in pursuit of the best brew in Singapore, or those seeking to learn more about coffee appreciation, be sure to visit Kaldi's Berry!
Ambience at Kaldi's Berry is casual, modern, and relaxing, with decor paying homage to all things caffeine. While actual floor space is small, movable furniture means seating can be customised for business meetings, leisurely chilling, or group hang-outs. The high ceiling and bright lighting lend a sense of space, while solar film over the glass panel reduces glare from the street. I also love the quirky coffee decor at Kaldi's Berry, like the Hario V60 Coffee Dripper converted into hanging lamps.
Service at Kaldi's Berry is very good. Staff are friendly, welcoming, and efficient in fulfilling orders and clearing tables. I find staff at Kaldi's Berry to be especially knowledgable on coffee, including methods of preparation, the taste of each type of coffee bean available here, and even some coffee history! Not surprising, as the owner is a Level 1 SCAA (Specialty Coffee Association of America) certified barista, and provides regular training for Kaldi's Berry staff.
Kaldi's Berry even holds regular coffee appreciation and brewing classes, every Wednesday 7:30pm - 9:30pm, and every Saturday 3:30pm - 5:30pm. The sharing and exchange of coffee knowledge covers topics such as, a basic introduction to the coffee making process, the 6 essential elements of brewing good coffee, the 3 main stages of the coffee brewing process, and more. Each 2 hour session typically costs SGD $$168 per person.Kaldi's Berry is the first in Singapore to use the Cold Drip Method with a twin valve drip system from Korea, a process which involves steeping coffee grounds in ice cold water for an extended period of time.
The advantages of the Cold Drip Method include a refreshing, naturally sweeter coffee with lower acidity, which can be safely stored in the fridge for as long as 3 weeks. In fact, coffee produced using the Cold Drip Method is like fine wine, the taste profile actually changes and gets better when aged!
The fresh version, aged 1 day, already has a very smooth, easily drinkable texture, with a slight sweetness in the front, a lingering bitterness at the back, and an overall refreshing feel. The version aged for 5 days however, while having the same texture and refreshing feel, has much less bitterness, and more sweetness.Food options at Kaldi's Berry are their weakest point, as the range is somewhat limited to mainly desserts and sandwiches. I've always had this nagging worry about true specialty coffee joints, that they focus too much on coffee and neglect the food. At Kaldi's Berry, I'm happy to say that the taste, quality, and quantity of food is above average, though there is room for improvement. Portions sizes are large for 1 person, and prices are reasonable for a cafe. Budget about SGD $8 or so per person for food alone.
The All Day Breakfast Set With Bacon & Ham (SGD $11.90) is probably the only 'main course' on the menu here. The scrambled eggs are soft, fluffy, and tasty with a dash of black pepper. The toast is slightly underdone, not yet crisp, but the salad vegetables are fresh and crunchy. The sauteed mushrooms are nicely cooked, earthy and savoury. The ham and bacon were well grilled, and paired well with the bread.
The Waffle With Strawberries, Bananas, Vanilla Ice Cream (SGD $6.90) is the largest dessert available on the menu. Served with fresh strawberries, bananas, and chocolate sauce, the fruits lend a fresh sweetness to the dish. The large scoop of vanilla ice cream I noticed was quite hardy, taking a long time to melt. The difference though, lies in the waffle batter, which is soft and bread like in texture, very different from other waffles elsewhere. Staff tell me that they are experimenting with infusing coffee flavour into the waffle batter!
Anyone with a passing interest should visit Kaldi's Berry, if not for the knowledge, then at least for their outstanding coffee beverages and friendly service. Kaldi's Berry is perfect for light bites, business discussions in a casual setting, leisurely afternoon dates, and chilling with a book.
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