Coconuts Hot Spot: The New Black

By Hidayah Salamat

Dec 23, 2014 | 1:01pm Singapore time

Month-old The New Black at Upper Circular Road is the first of several standard “coffee modules” architect Phoa Kia Boon wants to place in the lobby areas of fancy office buildings. The reason: people who work in these places need to be inspired, but the coffee isn’t.

The space is tiny — Phoa’s designed the module bit to take up only 100 sq. ft. to operate — but plucky. There are a lot of things going on here that are unheard of in the local cafe scene.

Photo: The module, made up of the Bench and Cabinet, takes up only 100 sq. ft

First of all it doesn’t look like the kind of cafe Singaporeans have come to expect, with its raw brick walls, mason jar planters and stacks of Juice. Instead, The New Black boasts a bold and beautiful theme of cyan, fuchsia and mustard. It’s also got a pretty stunning cleanroom vibe. Inspired by a surgical toolbox Phoa’s designed parts of the module — the Bench and the Cabinet — to hold every single coffee-making gadget and accessory in its place. No frill, just the absolute necessities.

Photo: Including The New Black, only three cafes in Singapore use the Alpha Dominche Steampunk machines

The baristas — usually two at a time — wear orange ‘lab coats’ and once every few minutes, the Alpha Dominche Steampunk Mod machine used to filter coffee and tea will bubble with water as if an experiment’s being conducted. Espresso is made with the sleek-as-hell Modbar, which works under the counter like the Alpha Dominche. Then there are the custom-made take-away cups, one lid fits all and sleeved in The New Black’s signature block colours. Even the payment system is unique — it’s cashless (yes, there’s FlashPay) and runs with Shopify.

Photo: iPad menu is equipped with taste wheel infographic to help you navigate the audacious variety

There are two iPads on the Bench, each displaying The New Black’s menu, the concept’s greatest draw as far as I’m concerned. All the roasters whose photos are displayed on the giant lightbox you’ll see before you even enter the space are featured here, including Oslo’s Tim Wendelboe, Sydney’s Single Origin Roasters, the Nylon Coffee Roasters from Singapore and the Rare Tea Cellar from Chicago. In total, the selection features nine roasters from four continents and over 20 different types of brewed and espresso coffee, as well as hot and iced teas. And choosing from these is quite an experience, a bit like how you’d pick wine to go with a meal. There’s Olympia’s La Pastora, described as candy-sweet, balanced and full-bodied with flavours of toffee, macadamia and plum, but if you prefer something floral you can go for Small Batch’s Hunkute — the honey and jasmine hits you first, before the subtle cinnamon aftertaste.

Photo: Ask to smell the dry ground coffee before they prepare your cup to fully appreciate the flavours

Oolong, rooibos and wild black tea are represented in the tea menu, but the more adventurous drinkers might want to try their only hybrid option at the moment: the coffee cherry tea from Has Bean, England. Expect to pay $5.50 to $18 (for the Geisha Manantiales del Frontino) a cup.

As expected there’s not much to be had in terms of food, but they have croissants — plain, chocolate and almond — from Singapore-based Bakery Artisan Original’s Christophe Grillo at $3 each if you want a snack.

The New Black is located a stone’s throw away from Canvas at 1 Upper Circular Rd. Open 8am — 6:30pm on weekdays, 8:30am — 4pm on Saturday.