Getting Supplies at the Hardware store (Chye Seng Huat)

A visit to the Hardware store was long overdue. 

It's been awhile since Skyscraper and I got our supplies to keep us going. Coffee, that is.

Skyscraper has been anticipating this trip for the past 2 weeks. He even made a recce trip to find out where it is on his way home from work.

Boy, his supplies must be running low if he actually did a recce trip to ensure we got to the coffee joint on time after the range.

When we reached Chye Seng Huat Hardware, we kept seeing people exiting through a metal gate on the side of the shop. No signage or no indication of the word "coffee" (except for a small plastic board which states www.cshhcoffee.com on a pillar) shows that a cafe lay yonder 'em those gates.

The power of the hipster movement and social media is amaze-balls. 

A queue snaked around the barista island when we walked in. Seating places are quite limited so we ended up on the bar stools facing a huge retro mirror (those that you see in coffee shops dating back to the 60's). It's pretty good to unobtrusively people watch.

The menu for coffee doesn't confuse a coffee virgin to Italian/French/German names like Piccolo Latte, Flat White, Cafe Miel, Americano etc. It just states - Espresso, Espresso + Water, Espresso + Milk, Brewed Coffee, Hand brewed with Love. Choose your poison.

A little tidbit on CSHH. It is opened by the same group which runs Papa Palheta. They roast their own beans at the Roastery (the building you see past the iron gates). There is a coffee appreciation class at the Annex, where coffee and light snacks will be provided. Places for the class are limited so check with the -staff. You can see the Annex from inside the shop itself. I heard there is a C-Platform where you learn about the geeky side of coffee but I did not manage to poke around much due to the torrential rain.

Rain does make coffee better. yums~

For our tummies, we went with a mix of mains, desserts and coffees.

We also had a serving of Pancake Stack with Blueberries ($10) but I was too excited about my beef patties and forgot to take a picture before another member of our party started munching on it. How excited was I about the beef? The beef is quiver-worthy.

Skyscrapper thinks there may be tofu mixed in with the beef. I did not see nor taste no tofu!

I managed to attack one pancake and it was F-L-U-F-F-Y. Not of the heavy batter shitz. It was velvety, with enough air bubbles inside for the lift needed.

Pecan Lime Cheese Tart and Hazelnut Ginger Teacake

We preferred the Pecan Lime Cheese Tart on its own but you have gotta take some coffee with the Hazelnut Ginger Teacake. The coffee balances out the spices in the teacake nicely. Without the coffee, you may get sick of it after awhile.

The Pecan Lime on the other hand had a nice crunch with a slight tartness. Most people shun cheese tarts because it is too rich and you'd probably get "jelak" of it after a few bites. Not this one. The lime reduces the richness so you can keep digging in.

I'm happy with the coffee so far. I'm an easy customer. Don't spoil my coffee.

Ruined coffee means no returns.

The barista at CSHH made a pretty decent flat white. Coffee was really warm to the touch so it cools progressively. The sour and acidity was not present. Plus, it was pretty! Overall, coffee pass!

Chye Seng Huat Hardware
Address: 150 Tyrwhitt Road, Singapore 207563
Tel: +65 6396 0609
Opening Hours: Tues - Thurs (9am-7pm), Fri-Sun (9am-10pm). Closed on Mondays. Kitchen closes at   
                         5pm