coffee in asia
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Posted: September 22, 2021Categories: The Bean
Read more »You may know India as a tea-drinking nation, but you’ll be amazed to find out about the country’s rich history when it comes to coffee. The drink’s origin dates back to 1600 AD when Baba Budan, a legendary merchant and 16th-century Sufi, went to Mecca on a pilgrimage and smuggled seven coffee beans from Yemen into Mysore, India. Upon arriving in Mysore, Baba Budan planted the seeds in Chandragiri – a hilly region located in the Indian state of Karnataka. It seems like a strange tale, but that’s how India’s coffee culture was born.
Where and How It’s Grown
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India’s coffee farms are pretty small; most are less than 10 acres in size. Photo from Rodrigo Flores.[/caption] Today, many aren’t aware that India is one of the world’s largest coffee producers. Ranked sixth internationally, India accounts for more than four per cent of global coffee production. Coffee farms are found in eight regions, mainly in the southern states. Wet-processed or washed specialty coffees are grown in mountainous areas, such as Baba Budan (yes, Chandragiri became known as Baba Budan thanks to the incredible origin story), Nilgiris, and Shevaroys. Robusta is a lot more common than Arabica (it’s 30 per cent v
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Posted: August 11, 2021Categories: The Bean
Read more »Do you like your cup of coffee super caffeinated for that extra kick? Is that strong, nutty, earthy flavour important, or do you prefer fruity, slightly more delicate notes? How you answer questions like that will determine which team you’re on: Arabica or Robusta. If you’re in the camp of “less caffeine” and “light and sweet” tasting notes, then consider picking up these five awesome Arabica roasts, available in either (or both) Singapore and Malaysia. Don’t have a coffee machine just yet? Explore our range of De’Longhi coffee machines for top-notch, cafe-quality java, just the way you like it.
Aceh Gayo Arabica
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The Aceh Gayo Arabica is lauded for its aromatic floral taste that delivers a bright and pleasant mouthfeel. Photo from JJ Royal.[/caption] Straight from the Gayo Plateau in Northern Sumatra, Aceh Gayo Arabica is a specialty-grade Indonesian coffee that gives you a balanced, medium-bodied drink.
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Posted: July 28, 2021Categories: Coffee 101
Read more »Coffee: it’s such a popular drink of choice, and many can’t function throughout the day without their daily cuppa (getting it cafe-standard is easy if you’ve got the slim and sleek Dedica).
But all over the globe, it’s prepared differently, and versions vary from country to country, sometimes even city to city.
Here are some unusual coffee brews you can find around the world:
Kopi Luwak
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Posted: June 30, 2021Categories: The Bean
Read more »For many of us, 2021 has meant more working from home and less going out on weekends to stay safe during the pandemic. This has often resulted in fewer trips to our favourite local coffee shops in town or near our workplaces. Thankfully for coffee lovers, more roasteries are offering subscription services that send us freshly roasted coffee beans direct to our homes. Arriving like clockwork, these deliveries enable us to continue indulging in artisanal coffees and fill our homes with the sweet aroma of delicious brews. Here’s our latest compilation of coffee subscriptions available in Singapore and Malaysia. Check out our previous lists in 2019 and 2020 for more providers to choose from. Happy brewing, and don’t forget to explore our range of De’Longhi coffee machines to do justice to the high-quality beans coming your way with barista-quality cups of coffee.
Parchmen & Co, Singapore
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Parchmen & Co offers an impressive range of exotic coffee beans for their subscription process. Photo from Parchmen & Co Instagram.[/caption] If you’ve been missing travelling lately, you can still explore exotic parts o
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Posted: March 31, 2021Categories: Coffee 101
Read more »Do you have a favourite local independent coffee shop? Perhaps it’s located near to where you live, close to your office, or handily placed near the school where you drop off your kids each morning.
You might use it as a quick early pitstop or treat it as a remote workspace for a leisurely afternoon session on your laptop. Some local coffee shops are so popular they attract customers miles out of their way to indulge in their quality brew.
As independent businesses, the local coffee shop doesn’t enjoy the large financial safety net of the big chains. These small operators can’t spend big amounts of money on advertising or marketing, so they tend to rely on word of mouth to attract new customers. With that in mind – and as fellow fans of the coffee bean – we think they deserve some special attention.
So let’s look at 3 great reasons why you should support your local coffee shop….
1. They make great coffee!
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Posted: December 09, 2020Categories: The Bean
Read more »Entering the traditional coffee shops of Singapore and Malaysia is like stepping back in time to the 1980s. They are more than just a place to grab a quick kopi (coffee) or a serving of soft boiled eggs – they are a second home for many local folks. But what’s so special about these hangouts, such that locals living in California queued an hour for a cup of kopi after Singapore’s oldest café, Killiney Kopitiam, recently opened its first outlet in the United States? Let us solve that mystery by exploring the rich and fascinating heritage of the local coffee scene.
The History of Kopitiam
In the late 1800s, Chinese immigrants from Hainan reached our nations’ shores. Some took up jobs in the service and hospitality sectors, often working for wealthy British and other European households. Post World War II, the departure of their Western employers forced the Hainanese to seek other means of earning a living. Many turned to setting up their own coffee shops, which are affectionately known as “kopitiam” today.The Appeal of Kopitiam
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A blast from the past: the appeal of kopitiam lies in its old-school decor. Photo from sharngst.[/caption] It’s the full-sensory experience at a kopitiam that makes its appeal so unique. Marble-top tables, old-fashioned mugs, overhead fans, and floor tiles that look right out of our grandmother’s kitchen. Some might call it old-school or run-down, but to a local, these are the essential aesthetics that mark out a genuine kopitiam. “Kopi C! Kopi Siew Dai! Kopi Gao!” The sounds and s
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Posted: September 23, 2020Categories: Coffee 101
Read more »Asia is a treasure trove of diverse cultures, traditions, architecture, food, and more. In recent decades, the coffee scene in Asia has blossomed, with many countries moving into the “third wave” of coffee.
In this article, find out which Asian countries have begun to show a change in their coffee taste profiles and which have remained unfazed by the influx of international coffee chains and the speciality coffee scene.
China
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Posted: July 29, 2020Categories: The Bean
Read more »Vietnam, more widely known for its strong and flavourful local coffee, is the world’s second-largest producer of coffee and top producer of the Robusta bean. The Southeast Asian country’s hilly landscapes and cooler climate make it the perfect location for coffee plantations. The next time you travel to Vietnam, walk down the streets of Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh and be welcomed by the aroma of freshly roasted coffee beans.
The Beginnings
In 1857, the French introduced coffee to the locals and soon after, the country was filled with coffee plantations as it was a lucrative industry that boosted the economy. When the Vietnam war came along, locals migrated, leaving behind their plantations. It was not until 1986 when private enterprises were given licenses to resume coffee production.How It Became a Coffee Production Giant
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Drinking coffee in London? The beans might be from Vietnam as it exports coffee beans all over the world. Photo from Christian Battaglia.[/caption] Coffee farmers initially relied heavily on the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides to increase yields. However, with more worldwide regulations set in place, most farmers are now moving towards organic practices, producing more sustainable coffee. Learn more about this coffee roaster in Malaysia tha
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Posted: July 15, 2020Categories: The Bean
Read more »Many of us start each morning with a cup of coffee or two to fuel ourselves for a busy day ahead. But sometimes, life can get busy, giving little time to head to the supermarket to restock our coffee supply. You might want to get started on a coffee subscription service to enjoy convenience plus fresh supplies of coffee delivered to your doorstep every month. Read on for an extension of our 2019 list of coffee subscription retailers in Singapore and Malaysia.
Nylon Coffee Roasters, Singapore
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Nylon Coffee Roasters takes pride in sourcing single-origin beans from across the world and releasing new coffee bean flavours regularly. Photo from Nylon Coffee Roasters.[/caption] Nylon Coffee Roasters has earned its place as one of Singapore’s leading cafes from sourcing some of the best single-origin beans from across the world and roasting them to perfection in-house. Starting from SGD20/month, Nylon offers a filter coffee subscription that gives subscribers an opportunity to experience how varying origins and processes affect the taste of coffee. During seasonal periods, subscribers can also expect to receive exclusive seasonal blends from different origins. Subscription orders are delivered within a day of roasting so you can be a
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Posted: February 26, 2020Categories: Coffee 101
Read more »Technology and coffee go hand in hand; throughout the years, we’ve seen amazing innovations in the art of making coffee, so it’s natural that we now have apps to aid in that process.
From apps that allow you to remotely control your coffee machine to the ones set up for instant pick-ups at your favourite cafes, here are our top favourites for apps that will make loving coffee so much easier.
KoHi
Brewing is a science, and the makers of KoHi know that. Photo from KoHi Lab
