Toby’s Estate

The first place I visited when I went to Singapore early this year was Toby’s Estate, along Robertson Quay. Jeen played food guide and decided we should stop for coffee first. I immediately took to the place. The interior had a slight industrial feel with a cute coffee tree in the middle of the long table.

Flat White

Latte

You can choose to sit al fresco to enjoy the view of the river, but I chose to sit inside to watch how my coffee was made. The latte was good; smooth and well balanced with a mild sweetness from the milk. I thought this latte was slightly better than the one at Papa Palheta. Jeen’s flat white was less creamy compared to my latte, but just as velvety in texture.

Keep Cup

Grinder

We also shared a Costa Rican coffee — Liana Bonito, prepared the woodneck method. This was acidic and savoury, with a Marmite-like aftertaste. I liked this. The beans were justly roasted, which allowed me to appreciate the delicate complexity of the brew. After drinking cups of mediocre coffees (where the beans are over roasted to mask flaws), this was a standout. As the coffee cooled a little, more flavours started to surface.

A coffee expert in KL told me that light roasts are “underdeveloped and unpleasant”, and that his coffee beans are just perfectly roasted. That was after I mentioned the pourover I ordered at his cafe was too bitter and overpowering. After trying the coffee here and a short chat with the pleasant barista, I’m now certain that ‘coffee expert’ over roasted his beans.

Costa Rican Liana Bonito

They grind their own coffee beans and the barista is more than happy to tell you about coffee, if you ask nicely.

Toby’s Estate
8 Rodyk St. #01-03/04,
Singapore 238216
Tel: +65 66367629
Opens: 7.30am-6.00pm daily.