Yes. This is yet another article about coffee.
And yes, this is specifically about places where you can get your coffee-fix in NUS!
Throughout the past few weeks, I decided to grab cups of caffeinated beverages from various cafes around school and rounded up my humble thoughts on my experiences. I am no coffee connoisseur, but as a coffee lover, I believe NUS students would appreciate a comprehensive list of cafes around NUS.
If you suffer from chronic fatigue and rely on caffeine as a crutch (or simply enjoy the flavours of coffee), read on!
- The Coffee Roaster Cafe @ NUS
A quaint and cosy cafe located at the heart of the FASS building, the Coffee Roaster is a quiet place to get some work done (yes, they have charging outlets) or to simply read a book. During my visit here, the pleasant environment together with the invigorating aroma of coffee stimulated some exciting discussions with my group mates!
Their coffee and espresso-based drinks are tasty and well-priced, coupled with other snacks such as quiches, cookies, as well as acai bowls for the full cafe experience!
They also sell their in-house freshly roasted coffee beans as well as coffee-making paraphernalia like drip bags if you enjoy brewing your own coffee in the comfort of your home. If you rarely come to school due to Covid-19, stock up on coffee supplies to enjoy while you work from home.
As a little bonus, beverages come in colourful and cheerful cups!
Opening hours: Mon – Fri (8 am to 6 pm)
Address: 10 Kent Ridge Cres, #01-02 Block AS8, Singapore 119260
- Flash Coffee
Delicious and fuss-free coffee. One of the few things that brings colour to life.
An obnoxious pop of bright yellow stands out against unremarkably-coloured brick walls, accompanied by their signature lightning flash logo. The vibrant stall is impossible to miss on your way to class. You can get your much-needed dose of caffeine in a refreshing cup of iced americano for just S$2.80. They also serve snacks and pastries such as brownies, banana caramel muffins, and Belgian waffles.
Perfect for a breakfast takeaway to start off your day!
Opening hours: Daily (8:30 am to 5 pm)
Address: 31 Lower Kent Ridge Road, #01-04, Yusof Ishak House, Singapore 119078
- Spinelli Coffee Company
Spinelli is tucked away in a quiet corner of University Hall, far away from the crowds, and highly suited for those of us with escapist tendencies!
I really appreciated the slow-moving and relaxing atmosphere in this cafe, it feels like it would be a good place to just chill and sip on your coffee (maybe do some work, or pull out your laptop for show, if you want). You will be able to find lattes, frappes, and even drip coffee here. However, they close rather early (at 4pm), so you might want to take that into consideration if you are planning to stay for a while.
Opening hours: Mon – Fri (8 am to 4 pm)
Address: 21 Lower Kent Ridge Road, UHT-01, 05 National University of Singapore, University Hall, 119077
- CoffeeBot
“You can take the humans out of coffee, but not the coffee out of humans!”
CoffeeBot is a comically large take-away coffee cup-shaped vending machine that serves take-away coffee.
Probably the fastest and most convenient way to get your coffee out of this list. With just less than two bucks, you can get freshly-brewed espresso drinks within a few minutes. How great is that?
Opening hours: 24/7
Address: 15 Kent Ridge Dr, Mochtar Riady Building, Singapore 119245
- The Spread
The Spread is really a great place to grab your lunch from, with their huge variety of pasta and salad options available. That’s not all, they even serve Thai Basil Pork Rice, Thai Milk Tea (yes; green and red), Karaage with rice, and other cuisines. If you’re looking for a quick bite, they also serve coffee and essential cafe snacks such as cakes and muffins. What a spread!
PSA: Spread the love for coffee, not Covid. Stay safe everyone!
Opening hours: Mon – Fri (8 am to 8 pm), Sat (8 am to 2:30 pm)
Address: 15 Kent Ridge Dr, #01-03, Mochtar Riady Building, Singapore 119245
Cafes are definitely a great change in scenery from the unyielding environment of a library. If you’re looking for a more lighthearted study session accompanied by the calming aroma of freshly brewed coffee, or simply want to grab a quick dose of energy after a long day… you know where to go!
Stay tuned for another mystical listicle of coffee places around NUS!