Brunch @Chye Seng Huat Hardware 再成发五金

It's always nice to sleep in during weekends..  So after the huge struggle to wake up, we headed for a late brunch @再成发五金 Chye Seng Huat Hardware (CSHH) Coffee Bar earlier this month.  It wasn't that crowded around 1ish on a Saturday, but you got to act fast to find your own seats.  The service staff are very occupied, so you have to self-service sometimes, and get the menu yourself if need be.
[ *Tip ]:  Run for the bar-top seats (in the centre of the shop) if you like to see 'first-hand' those baristas in action!

 

Orders are taken in and placed at the 2 cashier counters near to the main glass door.  PS:  It is really small and cramp in the shop.

 

I feel that it is more of the novelty in its shop name and the shopfront actually assumed the outlook of an old traditional shophouse with metal grills and folding white panel door.  The location is not easy to find, for you can walk past it without realising (also not many parking lots available in that area).  I have to applaud their marketing team for they did such a risky, yet innovative and successful branding for CSHH!  Oh I love the 'triangular'-shaped brown paper bag used for takeaways.  Very smart and nostalgic!  Kudos!!

[*Important Note ]:  The folding panel door is "FAKE" and seal-fixed to the wall.  There are 2 "real" entrance - (1) at the right-hand side grey-coloured door, which normally leads to the upper floors; & (2) thru' the corrugated metal gates outside & next to the building, where there's a "No Parking" sign.

Chye Seng Huat Hardware (CSHH Coffee Bar)
150 Tyrwhitt Road
Singapore 207563
Tel: 6396 0609

 Operating hours (nailed on the exterior side wall):

 

Apparently, they roast their own coffee beans.

  

Have heard about CSHH for some time and there have been many reviews on it, especially its coffee.  Some good, some bad.  It's the same for most places, depending on your own experience, on what and which stuff you choose to order.  Typically, not everything from the "same brand/shop" will be good, only certain item(s) from each brand/shop will be recommended.  As such, hear me out on my choices as follows..

 

Very simplified menu - with limited choice for main course (left-most column), coffee (middle column) and other drinks (right-most column).

 

Espresso + Milk = Latte --> Not "power" enough for me.  The coffee was fragrant, but taste was overpowered by the milk poured in.  Also, the coffee ain't hot enough when served, thus it turned cold pretty quick.  As you know, no coffee taste good when cold, unless it's iced coffee.

Blinis with Cream Cheese & Smoked Salmon - Luv it!!  It's pancakes with cream cheese + smoked salmon.  I don't usually take cream cheese with pancakes due to health preferences, but totally taken in this time!  For the cream cheese is slightly sour, well-matched with the pancakes and saltish smoked salmon to increase your appetite.

 

Scrambled Eggs with Bacon - Satisfactory =)  (Oh I liked the baked beans, different from the usual canned baked beans!)

 

Hazelnut Ginger Tea Cake - I really like it cos' I'm a fan of ginger! haa

There are ginger bits and hazelnuts in smaller chunks hidden in the cake, but not much of hazelnut on the whole.  I exceptionally like the irregular crumbs stuck on the top layer of the cake (wonder how they managed to have those crumbs up there?!?).

 

From the "Hand-Brewed with Love" menu, one gets to select according to own preference from Bright / Balanced / Bold.  Guatamela was recommended by the staff as the Brew-of-the-day for balanced taste was sold out.  Rather nice and smooth on the palate, with a tad acidic aftertaste.

 

In short, their cakes and coffee seemed average.  I do recommend people to give it an attempt, for its interesting concept but not-so relaxing ambience.  Despite how "remote" this place is hidden, tourists are attracted to this joint.  How can we, Singaporeans miss that out?!?