How to have the perfect coffee experience
Or something close to it. Xanthe Ang of PPP Coffee knows how to make yours memorable
I love coffee, but I’m afraid I’m no expert.
It won’t stop me from talking about it, though. Hehehe.
It’s been a while since I last had a coffee-themed post, so this is long overdue. I’m just glad that I was able to ask Xanthe Ang, PPP Coffee’s chief commercial officer, for ideas to get me back on track and start exploring the world of coffee again.
It’s quite timely too, as Xanthe and PPP Coffee are about to open their third Singapore outlet at new lifestyle destination New Bahru. They own and operate two others at Funan and CSHH, and will also offer coffees sourced from Asia, Africa and Latin America.
According to Xanthe, these coffees are “roasted in small batches to bring out the beans’ unique flavours and profile”. They have a range of blends and single origins in beans, pods and drip bags; coffee equipment and accessories for home brewers; and an online coffee subscription service as well.
What’s different about the New Bahru outlet is their all-day dining concept that features a coffee omakase experience and a pastry programme curated by pastry chef Sandra Lee. That sounds exciting to me, so if you feel the same, you can find out more below.
Meanwhile…
In search of the perfect coffee experience
You’d probably be surprised to know that Xanthe doesn’t believe in a perfect coffee experience.
“I don’t think it exists,” she admits. But before you go, “What’s the point of this post then?” let her explain.
“If you’re asking about where I had one of my most memorable coffee experiences, it would be in February 2023 when I got to attend a five-day coffee course on coffee farming, processing and botanical cupping in Coffea Diversa (a coffee garden in Costa Rica).
“Being able to connect the dots between what I have learnt on paper to experiencing it in real life is just mind-blowing. Beyond the knowledge gained, it was the conversations and the connections made with people during the trip over coffee that was the ultimate coffee experience.”
Maybe “perfect” is too much? “Memorable” might be a better word to use. Since we’re now going with “memorable”, we got Xanthe to share more.
• Pacamara
“This was way back in 2016. I was first introduced to specialty coffee by the people behind the now defunct Knockhouse Supply Co,” she recalls.
“I’ve always wanted to dabble in coffee brewing but didn’t have an avenue to start, but Knockhouse organised monthly cupping sessions and that was how I got into the rabbit hole of coffee. The people there were really generous in sharing their knowledge of coffee, and they also allowed us to play with the machines.”
• Chye Seng Huat Hardware
“Slight bias here but still worth a mention! My office sits on the third floor of the building and I’d usually grab a cup of coffee before I head up. Our coffees are usually served in a cup and saucer, but I always ask to have it in a mug so I wouldn’t make a mess while climbing up the stairs. So now whenever I place my orders, the baristas (even though it might be a different person each day) would always ask, ‘In a mug?’ and I give a cheeky smile.”
• Kurasu
“Their espresso matcha hits the spot every time and their baristas are just vibes. Enough said.”
Sidebar
The 3 P’s of coffee
If you ask Xanthe, a memorable coffee experience has these three elements:
#1 Product
“If I’m drinking at least two cups of coffee a day, I’d want to know where my coffee’s from and how it’s produced.”
#2 Place
“Great conversations happen over coffee. In the new PPP Coffee at New Bahru, we’ve designed different spaces for such conversations to happen: an eight-seater omakase bar for an intimate coffee and cocktail session; a main dining hall for big group gatherings; and a pet-friendly al fresco and outdoor recreation area for business or casual catch-ups.”
#3 People
“Knowledgeable, attentive and approachable staff – the people are what make the place.”
How do we create our own perfect coffee experience then, if we wanted to?
Be it “perfect” or “memorable”, Xanthe is still here to the rescue.
#1 Visit at least one new specialty coffee roaster every week
“You can find the same coffee at different coffee roasters, but you’d be surprised how they may differ in taste.”
#2 Chat up the baristas
“Many of these professionals have very interesting stories of how they transitioned into the coffee industry,” she relates.
“If you don’t know how to start, begin by asking, ‘How long have you been doing this?’”
#3 Go for an espresso or long black when visiting new cafés
“If you want to know whether or not a coffee is good, always try it at its purest state before you move on to others on the menu.”
#4 Compliment them if the coffee tastes good
“It makes the baristas’ day, and it really goes a long way!”
There’s one more tip
Tip #5 is to look for something unique – like their omakase experience at New Bahru.
“PPP Coffee has always been about connecting people with coffee. We’re always thinking about how we can present coffee differently, and that’s how we thought about marrying the concept of coffee and omakase, which means ‘I leave the selection to you.’”
“The experience will be a play of flavour, and will at the same time educate customers on how origin, roasts, brewing methods, and certain food pairings can help enhance the tasting notes in your coffee,” she describes.
“Guests will be able to choose from a three-course coffee omakase experience, where they’ll be able to enjoy coffee prepared in three ways – filter, espresso and cold brew – or a four-course coffee omakase experience, which will include a coffee cocktail.
“This experience will be conducted at our eight-seater Omakase Bar, led by a professional barista, and complemented with a miniature offering of pastries by Sandra Lee. Reservations will be required in advance.”
Speaking of pastries to go with your coffee
Here’s Tip #6 (yes, the tips are endless; this is The Tip Box, after all): Sometimes a coffee experience won’t be complete without food, so go ahead and have some.
Xanthe, for one, thinks it’s tough to choose. “I have a different favourite coffee for different kinds of food,” she reveals.
But if she has to...
• Croissants
“I’d usually have a croissant with batch brew in the mornings before I start work. If you’re just like me, you can look forward to New Bahru because we’re going to serve them all day on tap with a choice of two single origins – and they’re going to be refillable on weekdays!”
• Chocolate cake
“For a post-dinner dessert, I usually have a long black paired with a rich and moist chocolate cake. You can look forward to the Throwback Chocolate Cake at New Bahru, which is inspired by the tasting notes of our Throwback Blend of dark chocolate, caramel and hazelnut.”
At the end of the day, we return to the coffee
Are there still some coffees that Xanthe is excited to try, or try again?
“The Espresso Martini at Jigger & Pony, which is made using our coffee pods,” she says.
“The dedication that the bartenders take into every ingredient that goes into their beverage was something that really impressed us. We actually went through an entire R&D process with the bar team to nail down the perfect roast before they launched it on their menu. I probably wouldn’t order an espresso martini at any other bar except for Jigger & Pony.”
What would make her say that a coffee is “good”?
“In scientific terms, a good coffee is one that is balanced in aroma, flavour, acidity, body and aftertaste,” she answers.
“There are at least 40 hands involved in the process of coffee-making, and every step contributes to making a good cup of coffee. I believe that no coffee shop in their right mind would intend to serve bad coffee. There will be good and not-so-good days.”
So just “be open, practise empathy, and learn to appreciate the hard and heart work that goes into your cup of coffee. You’ll find yourself having more ‘perfect coffee moments’!”
Before we go…
Xanthe’s tip for personalising coffee? (Which we will put as Tip #7.)
It’s easy: “Pour your heart into it.”
Happy coffee drinking!
Find PPP Coffee in Singapore here and on Facebook, YouTube and Instagram.
Another sidebar
Xanthe’s favourite coffees
These are the ones she could probably drink forever if she has to.
• Ethiopia Suke Quto
“I like it as in iced black – it’s perfect for the weather in Singapore and it also gives you the caffeine kick that you need for the day!”
• PPP Coffee’s Throwback Blend
“It’s a very versatile blend that can be enjoyed black or with milk.”