Home Food Reviews Papa Palheta, Singapore

For some, the first coffee of the day is a make-or-break moment. A robust, flavourful cup can lift one’s mood but a watery brew does quite the opposite. Jeen introduced me to good coffee at Papa Palheta, an independent coffee boutique that specializes in roasting specialty coffee in Singapore.

Quirky corner

There is no menu, no price list, and no pastries to nibble on – at Papa Palheta, what you get is a whole coffee experience. The place itself boasts quite a character. An interesting mismatch of furniture and decor, there are bits of bohemian influence on one corner, a bit of old school classics and artsy touches on the other. Since there’s no price list, you basically drop how much you think the coffee is worth into the tip jar provided. There’s a guideline of SGD3.50 per drink, but we felt the coffees were worth more and paid accordingly.

The beans must be weighed

The roasting takes place every Monday, and Papa Palheta will be closed for that day. I tried the Ethiopian pour-over while Jeen had the Columbian. Pour-over is a method of drip coffee where the water is poured in a thin, steady, slow stream over a filter cone. One cup of coffee takes about three minutes to brew. If you go to Papa Palheta during non-peak hours (or if you’re lucky), the barista might give you a demonstration which I’ve documented in the video below.

Almost ready!

The Ethiopian had hints of floral aroma (jasmine) and a soft acidity on a light clean cup. Aromatic yet finely balanced, this was a delicate cup of coffee — almost tea-like. The Columbian coffee was clean, balanced, of medium acidity and resonantly powerful — the kind of coffee I would start my day with.

“Another coffee?”

I nodded and the barista made me a latte. The flavours were well balanced and the milk was nicely frothed with a mild sweetness, which didn’t mask the aroma and flavour of the coffee. Some lattes leave a sour or bitter taste in the mouth, but this one did the exact opposite. Good stuff. The beans are sourced from all over the world including single origin beans from Sumatra, Sulawesi, Guatamala and Brazil.

I’m definitely popping by when I’m in Singapore next!

Ambiance: 6/10
Price: Pay via tipping
Coffee: 8/10
Verdict: A coffee lover’s paradise.

Papa Palheta
140 Bukit Timah Road (turn into Hooper Road)
Singapore
Tel: +65 9799 0420


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9 comments

lotsofcravings April 5, 2012 - 11:36 am

my friend took us there and we loved it, coming twice in 2 days! love the concept and the location being in the middle of nowhere..hopefully malaysia eventually reaches this kind of standard.

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Bangsar Babe April 5, 2012 - 11:42 am

I hope so too! Our local coffee scene is picking up…so yay! :)

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Michelle April 5, 2012 - 11:43 am

i will defo bring my mom here!

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Bangsar Babe April 5, 2012 - 11:46 am

Yes you should! I’m sure you’ll enjoy the coffee too. ;)

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The Yum List April 5, 2012 - 12:30 pm

This is right up my alley! I want to go!

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Bangsar Babe April 5, 2012 - 1:57 pm

Go try…and let me know what you think!

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Sean April 5, 2012 - 2:36 pm

ooo, this looks like it’s for the coffee connoisseur indeed. love the look of the setting. i’ve been seeing a lot of references to ethiopian coffee in recent years, but i’ve only managed to taste it once. liked it :D

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Simple Person April 5, 2012 - 8:42 pm

very interesting .. i like the alley style….
kinda a high class mamak.. LOL

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Masako October 18, 2012 - 11:39 pm

wao.. i want to try this.. C.O.F.F.E.E

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