I first knew Cafe Owner-Barista Mandy when she was at the (now-defunct) Artisan C. Specialty Coffee previously located at Suntec City.
She subsequently moved on to Omotesando Koffee at Downtown Gallery, The Extraction Lab in Shanghai and finally back in Singapore with her very own cafe.
If you ever talk to Mandy, you will know that she is an approachable, knowledgeable, and experienced barista – despite her age.
Located just a short walk from Ang Mo Kio Hub (AMK Hub), Brew & Co. has joined the cafe scene, alongside recent opening such as AMPM Café and Desert Dessert, adding more choices and vibrance to the area. (Also read: 10 ANG MO KIO Cafes)
The hole-in-the-wall coffee bar is already in talks to increase more seats outdoors but as of now, they can only accommodate 6 people for dine-in at its maximum capacity.
Stepping inside, the interior is homely and cosy, with carpentry work such as the cupboard, display shelf and coffee table mainly focusing on wooden elements.
Outside, it will be a popular Instagram-worthy spot with Kinfolk-inspired vibes: simple furniture with potted plants against a clean, minimalist wall.
The espresso-based drinks such as Espresso ($4), Black ($4.50), White ($5) and Mocha ($5.50) are using a 3-beans-blend (Brazil, Guatemala, Colombian) roasted locally.
My cup of White ($5) was well executed and well-balanced with a medium body, smooth, robust, with a distinctive chocolatey and earthy taste that will resonate with most people.
Filter coffee is in the pipeline as they are stabilising the operation before introducing more items onto their menu.
Two special items can be found here, namely Dirty Matcha ($6) which is matcha with espresso and Orange Espresso ($6) which is uncommon in Singapore.
Mandy wanted to bring the Orange Espresso ($6), a popular drink during her stint in Shanghai, back here to Singapore, as she felt that the ingredients are simple but can be as amazing.
Even though the Orange Espresso ($6) sounded quite funky, I must say the orange complements the espresso well, providing a citrus punch and counter-balance the bitterness without overwhelming it.
Using matcha powder from The Matcha Project located at The Sail @ Marina Bay, the Dirty Matcha ($6) doesn’t look that “dirty”, with 3 beautiful layers of espresso, milk and matcha in a cup.
The taste of the matcha did not really stand out as obvious as I thought, but it was still a decent drink with a well-balanced profile.
For non-coffee drinkers, Teas ($5) such as Elegant Earl Grey, Gentle Jasmine Green, Floral Chamomile and Pure Peppermint, Chocolate ($5.50), Matcha ($5.50) and Milk ($4) are available.
Light bites in the form of pastries such as Muffin ($5), Raisin Scone ($4.50), Bagel ($4.50), Croissant ($5), Pain au Croissant ($5.50) and Raisin Swirl ($5.50) are available to complement with the drinks.
Brew & Co. will probably be the next big hit in the cafe scene, serving good coffee with nice spots for OOTD, and not forgetting a friendly barista in the house.
Brew & Co.
716 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 6, #01-4030, Singapore 560716
Opening Hours: 9am – 6pm (Sun – Thurs), 9am – 9pm (Fri – Sat)
Other Related Entries
10 ANG MO KIO Cafes
AMPM Café (Ang Mo Kio)
Desert Dessert
* Written by Nicholas Tan @stormscape who loves all things [NEW]. DFD paid for food reviewed unless otherwise stated.