Good cafe that we visited...

This blog is not just about sharing brewing techniques, it is also about sharing the coffee we love.  In this post, we have a list of cafe that we have visited, and would love to recommend to you (if you are serious about your coffee). Some might be wondering, is that all? You guys only visited 11 cafes? No, of course! We have visited more, but frankly speaking, some are not worth mentioning, let alone paying them for their drinks, yuck! So, here goes the list:

1. Espresso Lab e@curve, Mutiara Damansara

If you are expecting a warmth and cozy decorated cafe, this is not really a place for you. In Espresso Lab, everything is designed as simple as possible, so as to maintain the focus of the customers on their coffee. The design of the cafe resembles a lab and besides making good espresso based beverages, they also serve macrons and expensive POTONG (ice-cream stick). And don't forget their awesome Astoria lever operated espresso machines at the bar!

2. RAW (Real and Wholesome) Wisma Equity, Jln Ampang

 If you are a coffee purist like me, seeking for the best beans around Malaysia, then this cafe is certainly is a MUST VISIT for you. It houses the sexiest espresso machine in Malaysia, Kees van der Westen, known as the Rolls Royce of espresso machine (lever operated of course!). Besides the machine, I really can't stop admiring their Diedrich coffee roaster, where they roast their beans fresh right in the cafe. Their organic salad is awesome, beans are fresh from the estates, baristas are great, yeap! That's everything you need for a good cuppa!

3. Coffee Stain by Joseph, Fahrenheit 88, Bukit Bintang

A great place to enjoy good espresso and hand drip coffee, at the heart of KL. I personally love their slow bar, where the knowledgeable and friendly barista share with me the brew and equipments he loves. Their prices are reasonable and service is good.

4. WHISK, Outpost, 1 Utama

If you love to shop at 1 Utama, Damansara Utama, you should really visit this cozy little cafe, located right next to Starbucks. They serve really good home bake cakes, and their coffee has good milk textures. My regular order would be flat white with chocolate cake.

5. Plan B Roaster, Publika, Solaris Dutamas

 I believe this cafe needs no introduction. Mentioned in the previous post, this cafe is another fine cafe with a German made Probat roaster in it. Their beans are fresh and espresso is good. Too bad their drip brew and french press coffee are overpriced.

 6. Burps & Giggles, Jalan Panglima, Ipoh

Not living in KL? Never mind, we also found some good ones in Ipoh. Burps & Giggles would be a good place to start. They are using espresso blend from Bristot, UK (nothing worth to be bragged about, not really that fresh), good thing is that their baristas are experienced and passionate, resulting in a fine cup of cappucino with good milk texture. Try not to order their espresso though, as the beans doesn't really worth tasting. BTW, we love their decoration and ambience!

7. Indulgence, Ipoh

If you are not a fan of old school deco, and instead yearn for a fine dining place with good coffee, Indulgence is the right place for you. It is located in an old bungalow, elegantly decorated with nice lighting. Surprisingly, their gourmet coffee is not pricey, as compared to their food. Since Indulgence and Burps & Giggles are under the same owner, they are using the same blend from Bristot, UK. So, forget about studying the taste of the coffee, just enjoy the skills of the baristas :)

8. Plan B, Ipoh


Another new dining spot for good coffee in Ipoh, this cafe is conveniently located right behind Burps & Giggles, brewing good espresso, using their company's house blend. In fact, this is one of the places in Ipoh that you should visit if you really want to taste espresso made out of fresh beans. Plan B has its own roaster in Malaysia, and their beans are worth trying. Food is expensive but large enough.

9. Bubblean's, Kampar
 
Now, back to our beloved Kampar town. Bubblean's is the only cafe here with drinkable specialty coffee. The cafe proudly houses several high quality Hario Syphon coffee makers, a Nuova Simonelli espresso machine and roasted beans from Lighthouse roaster, Penang. Beans are not really the freshest, considering the fact that Kampar population are still new to specialty beans, and the way they store their beans still needs improvement.

10. Alley Johns, Kampar

This little cafe situated right beside Old Town White Coffee, Kampar, is in our list for a reason--they are really serious about their coffee. Though they are using robusta beans instead of Arabica (which is a bit disappointing),  they care about every detail of their coffee. First, they import fresh beans from plantation at Vietnam, use good grinders (Mazzer & Rancilio), proper method (Vietnam Dripper), make good food (Japanese crepe, cakes, cocktail and coffee jelly). And best of all, everything is homemade, by the owners themselves.

 

11. Full of Bean, Straits Quay, Penang

This amazing cafe in Straits Quay, Penang, is one of the best cafe that I have ever visited. It has a vast collection of manual coffee equipments, a great variety of coffee beans and beverages, and they serve expensive beans like Luwak and Jamaican Blue Mountain. I love the way they serve ice drip coffee and presso. They are also using lever operated espresso machine :)