The Populus, Singapore

Coffee is for the masses. (Or is it?)

The Populus Coffee and Food Co. is lit by golden light so it always seems the best time of day here. Run by Department of Caffeine and coffee-roasters 2Degrees North Coffee Co., this café is proof collaborations can work splendidly when both parties know exactly what they do best.

The twirly filaments of the chic Edison bulbs aside, it’s the carefully thought-out décor and the clean lines of the staff uniforms – from the servers to the baristas, all dressed in white shirts and the occasional denim apron – that stands out initially. That is, till you taste the coffee and the eats.

The espresso-based blends have memorable names such as Monolith, Caldera and Duxton Vice. (The last one is particularly cheeky.) Single origin filter coffee lovers will appreciate their range including a fully washed Kenya Thirikuab, a natural processed Ethiopia Kochere and a red honey Costa Rica Finca La Casa.

Food selections are superb: We thoroughly enjoy our grain bowl of quinoa, bulgur wheat and pearl barley – generously smothered with slow-cooked pulled pork, furikake baby corn, red cabbage & apple slaw, chargrilled zucchini, roasted butternut squash, sautéed cherry tomatoes and mixed mushrooms – and our French toast (a properly baked vanilla brioche with butter rum bananas, pistachio crumb and scented Greek yoghurt – the edible flowers were a nice touch).

We only wish we have room for more. Maybe next time. We’ll certainly be back.

由Department of Caffeine 和 Two Degrees North Coffee Co. 聯手打造的The Populus Coffee & Food Co. 是新加坡近來一家人氣極高的咖啡館。
眾所周知的，在Neil Road這一帶的咖啡館林立，
而這家於去年才開業不久的咖啡館憑什麼會脫穎而出，吸引著眾人的目光？
推開大門，入眼的是那長長的吧檯，
接著是窗戶間揮灑進來自然光和大量木質裝飾，
仔細品略的話，可以看見吧檯後方透露著些許綠意，
還有天花板處那獨具一格的燈飾。
這些細微末節處的巧思，成功的營造出一股有別于大眾工業風的咖啡館，
給人一種新穎、舒適的感覺。

除了環境與氣氛的營造，這的食物和咖啡也毫不遜色。
無論手沖單品衣索比亞還是綜合豆子的卡布，
都滿足了我們的咖啡癮，讓我喝完後不禁再續了一杯果酸十足的肯亞。
食物方面的選擇更是多元化。
由布里欧修製成的法式吐司搭配新鮮的草莓、藍莓、香蕉、優格和開心果碎，
再以鮮花點綴，但看賣相就十分吸引人。
而以手撕豬肉搭配各種谷粱、烤南瓜、節瓜、櫻桃番茄和蘑菇等，
健康之餘還異常的美味，讓我對菜單上的其他食物躍躍欲試。
可惜的是我們實在太飽了；下次吧，我們說好會再回來的。