Necessary Provisions, Singapore

Coffee is all that we need, some days.

Located at one corner of a row of shophouses in Bukit Timah, Necessary Provisions may not be the most accessible of cafés. Yet coffee lovers in the know will find their way to this sleepy neighbourhood, and with good reason: their baristas are some of the friendliest and warmest in this always-on-to-go city.

Opened by Darren Chang of Smitten Coffee and Tea Bar (another excellent café), Necessary Provisions makes up for its limited space with plenty of easy charm. A large round communal table seats a dozen effortlessly while another table displays their freshly baked creations.

The view of the semi-open kitchen and roasting room should entice most to sample their menu. Freshly made pasta is available but for smaller bites, you can’t go wrong with their savoury scones (imagine warm nuggets of cheese melting in your mouth) and the banana Nutella panini.

Espresso lovers can enjoy their in-house Thumper blend is a mix of natural Brazil Fanzenda Passeio, washed Honduras El Chollo and Guatemala Fince San Andres. Those who prefer pourover coffee have a choice of V60 and Chemex; ask the barista for their seasonal single origins. Tea devotees aren’t left out; they carry an array of exquisite Chinese and Indian teas.

Necessary Provisions是一位咖啡友極力推薦的一家咖啡館，

與另一家我們喜歡的咖啡館Smitten Coffee and Tea Bar是同一個老闆。

但有別於只售賣咖啡和糕點的Smitten，NP這提供了不少熱食。

而且無論是裝潢佈置、還是整體感覺也與Smitten那截然不同。

半開放式的廚房，大量的深色家具，看起來樸質無華，

但卻能感受出是一番經過巧思設計的佈置。

這裡除了意式咖啡外，也有當季的手沖單品，而豆子則全都是由自家烘焙。

在菜單上你找不到卡布奇諾或拿鐵這些常見的字眼，

因為這的意式牛奶咖啡是以杯子的大小來區分；

共有4、6、8盎司(oz)三個選擇。

杯子越大，牛奶的份量就越多，而咖啡味則越單薄。

愛吃的我們，當天也點了他們的鹹味司康餅（savoury scones）和香蕉榛子醬帕里尼（banana Nutella panini）。

溫熱的香蕉和榛子醬配上烤得有點脆脆的麵包，是一份簡單的美味。

如果肚子不是很餓，又想吃點東西，我建議來份鹹味司康餅。

司康餅配果醬和奶油吃得不少，但鹹味的還是頭一遭。

外頭有點香脆，而裡頭全是鬆軟的。

馬少說就像一塊融化在嘴裡的乳酪，很特別。

酒香不怕巷子深，咖啡也一樣。

雖然Necessary Provisions隱藏在武吉知馬區的一排老店屋中，

但這有好喝的咖啡、美食，加上親切友善的咖啡師，

所以聞香而來的咖啡客還是絡繹不絕，

尤其是假日時，更是常常一位難求。

Necessary Provisions 21 Eng Kong Terrace, Singapore necessaryprovisions.com