I know I am not alone when I say that I miss travelling. So lately, I have been fiddling with my iCloud (that has about 20,000+ photos to date) looking back at snapshots to compensate for the longing.
In my travels, whether for work or a simple vacation – I allow myself to coffee crawl. This is a ritual that I fondly practice wherein I move from one café to another just soaking myself in the city’s culture but more importantly of course, appreciating the magical cup of liquid gold that comes with it. I’ve collected 6 of my favorite coffee houses from my recent travels in the name of 2ndopinion.ph’s 6thanniversary and our common obsession for coffee.
1. Alchemist – Tanjong Pagar, Singapore
During my 2-year stint in Singapore working at my company’s regional office, I always found myself back at Alchemist — my go-to for the daily morning coffee run. It’s a no-frills takeaway stand that serves an excellent selection of beans. The service is quick but still very personal; they know that their crowd is the group of corporate horses who need caffeine done the right way. Alchemist was essentially my refuge especially when I had days that needed a little bit of more comfort.
2. Factory Coffee – Bangkok, Thailand
Just before an afternoon flight back to Singapore, I had planned my morning visit to this local crowd favorite just beside the Phaya Thai station. It’s a win for tourists like myself being caught up in the routine of the BKK crowd. It was extremely busy and the line to get your order was rather long; but as they say, good things come to those who wait. As I sat there sipping on my second cup, I realized that their signature drink was called Mrs. Cold. An ode to Kings of Convenience, I found myself vulnerable around it.
3. Press Start Café – Baler, Philippines
I hate clichés, but when we discovered this gem in Baler a few summers back — I caught myself believing that you’ll really find the best things in life when you don’t look for them. Tucked away in this coastal town, lies a third wave coffee house serving THE BEST coffee in Aurora. We were lucky enough to be given the full coffee experience because coincidentally, one of my barista friends was working there lending his magic on the beans. We had unlimited cups and glasses of lattes, pour-overs and americanos unbothered by time and momentarily, the responsibilities we had back in the city.
4. Little Nap Coffee Stand – Tokyo, Japan
In my opinion, Tokyo probably has the most mature coffee scene. Every nook and cranny had a caféthat served amazing coffee. I would give credit to the methods that they religiously practice such as pour-overs and siphons coupled with how open-minded they are in importing beans from various coffee regions. Not to mention, Tokyo cafes use top-grade milk for their lattes and cappuccinos. I visited Little Nap Coffee Stand having the same expectations, in that they have met and delivered so much more. The charming shop is located away from the crowded Shibuya central sitting comfortably in a quiet park. It was the perfect spot to people-watch appreciating the details that one may often take for granted.
5. La Veen – Perth, Australia
It’s pretty much second nature to do a little bit of research before I travel to a new destination. My first time at Perth was in 2018 and La Veen was the cafè that kept on coming up in my searches. I instantly saw why. Housed in a heritage building, the shop may be small but their selection of beans is extensive and bold. I sat outside to bathe myself in the Australian sunlight. I can’t wait to go back.
6. Café a Brasileira – Lisbon, Portugal
If you want to immerse yourself in some real time-warping, look no further when you visit Brasileira. It almost felt like I was waiting for Hemingway to enter the cafeteria. Café a Brasileira is probably Lisbon’s most famous and most photographed café that first opened its doors in 1905. The celebrated Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa was known to have his bica (even stronger than espresso!) there and that’s the reason why you can see him immortalized sitting outside. I had my fill of their bica, wondering how life was back then before Instagram. Don’t blame the millennial, though.
Coffee crawling to me is just more than having one’s cup of the common man’s magical drink – it’s allowing yourself to be submerged in the culture of the city and to appreciate the daily musings that come with it.
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