If it weren’t for Kurasu’s cult following, it could be difficult for first-timers to find this well-hidden Waterloo Street cafe. Follow the queues however, and you’ll soon understand the reason the cafe is so popular; the lineup of coffee is the same here as it is in Kurasu’s original Kyoto brand – a result of partnerships with speciality roasters around Japan, and in this case, beans which are then shipped fresh weekly. Crowd favourites here include Espresso White and Matcha Latte, and if you find you’re struggling with the location (it happens), Kurasu opened its second Singapore outlet in Somerset back in April. kurasu.kyoto

Is it a coffee shop in Singapore or a traditional home in Japan? This tiny hole in the wall located in Clarke Quay is known to confuse at first glance before winning clientele over with its slow pour coffee menu and decadent pastries. Seating a maximum of 10 people (expect a wait), Dawn’s beans – predominantly single origin – are sourced from boutique roasters such as Manhattan Coffee Roasters, with a focus on showcasing espresso-based drinks as well as filtered coffee. instagram.com/dawnkissa

Ask any Australian expat for their cafe recommendations and more often than not, Common Man Coffee Roasters will top the list. Established in 2013 with key partners Five Senses Coffee Australia (as well as the Singapore-based Spa Esprit Group) the vision was to establish Australian coffee culture here in Singapore – complete with a chain of cafes, as well as a barista academy. Pop in at one of four cafes and enjoy a menu which ranges from rich house blends and single origin Ethiopian beans to more decadent flavours such as a Nitro Honey Oat Latte. Happily for Australian soy drinkers, Bonsoy is also available on request. commonmancoffeeroasters.com

Since throwing open its doors in an Everton Park public housing block in 2012, Nylon Coffee Roasters has been as engaged in storytelling as it has been in serving brew at an accessible price point (by Singapore standards). The constantly changing menu reflects the nature of the owners’ close relationships with coffee producers, Dennis Tang and Jia Min Lee often visiting farms and cooperatives in order to build better transparency when it comes to the origins of their beans. Essentially a tiny coffee bar, this isn’t the place to while away the hours, but grab and go. nylon.coffee

What started as a simple coffee cart to educate Singaporeans about Hokkaido’s celebrated brown jersey milk has evolved into two popular Baristart cafes – one in Tras Street, the other in Siloso Beach Walk, Sentosa – where coffee drinkers can choose from three types of beans: their own Baristart Blend, and two single origin beans that change every month. Dedicated to only working with the creamy milk which not only delivers the perfect latte but is used in the cafes’ selection of melt-in-the-mouth pastries, you can expect cute foam art with every cup. baristartcoffee.sg