Alchemist: First Flagship Store With In-House Coffee Roaster At Khong Guan’s Former Biscuit Factory

Office workers around the CBD will be familiar with Alchemist, which has two outlets located in International Plaza and Hong Leong Building. They are mainly for takeaways, so this flagship outlet with proper seating in Tai Seng at Khong Guan Building is a dream come true for those who want to chill with their cuppa.

I’ve always heard great things about their coffee, but never in the area to grab and go. As a self-proclaimed coffee junkie, I finally decided to take a trip down to check out the new outlet to find out how good their coffee actually is.

The location itself is pretty easy to locate, just a five-minute walk from Tai Seng MRT station (Exit A). The building can be spotted from far with its unique ship-like formation with a ‘K’ imprinted right on the top.

Nearing the store, the baby blue iron grilles and mint green mosaic tiles caught my eye. It gave off a very retro vibe, with contrasting Chinese calligraphy that says “Khong Guan” in red and “Alchemist” in neon electric blue capital letters directly below.

Entering the glass door, I was greeted with loads of natural lighting, thanks to the large windows along the perimeters. There are retro couches with wooden frames near the end, as well as several counter seatings in the middle. Pretty Instagrammable I must say.

Right in the middle is where all the magic happens. With marble tabletops and silver coffee apparatus, the place projects a very clean and minimalistic feel.

The back of the space is occupied by a huge coffee roaster, which is hard to miss. If you are lucky, you can even catch them roasting the beans while sipping on your drink!

Alchemist has a simple menu, offering mainly either espresso-based or pour over coffee. The barista on duty informed me they recently changed up their blends, with two for espresso and three for the pour over. We couldn’t settle on one and decided to get a variation of coffee and beans.

The White (S$5) came with simple heart-shaped latte art. The Colombian El Naranjal beans that we went for had a fruity fragrance and a mellow taste profile, which made it well balanced. With a splash of milk, it was medium bodied with no lingering aftertaste.

The iced Black (S$5.50) was brewed with Sitio Serra Negra beans from Brazil. It was served with a metal straw, which environmentalists would definitely appreciate. With chocolatey and nutty nuances, it had a stronger taste with a slightly acidic finish.

The pour over (S$6) was definitely my personal favourite out of all the drinks we got. We opted for the Mata De Guada from Colombia, which had light and fruity notes.

The temperature is measured with a thermometer scale, prepared in front of you should you choose a counter seat as we did. This method of preparation resulted in a thinner and less acidic coffee, yet still aromatic and flavourful.

The chocolate (S$5) was forgettable and had a distinct milky taste. Stick to their coffees would be my advice, especially those who prefer their drinks with a heavier mouthfeel.

To my delight, they also offer pastries from Bread and Hearth that does handcrafted artisanal bakes. There were five types of baked goods to choose from, and two unique options caught my eye.

The Butter Horn (S$3.50) resembled a cinnamon danish. The spice was distinct in every bite, probably due to the fact that the dough itself is sprinkled with cinnamon. It was buttery and flaky, which are signs of a good pastry. The cinnamon streusel topping also gave a varying texture with a touch of sweetness.

The Almond Chocolate (S$3.80) was equally delightful, with light and fluffy layers. It was studded with melty chocolate chips and loaded with smooth luscious almond cream.

The fillings weren’t the most generous, but it is probably a good thing as it was leaning towards the sweeter side. The crunch on the top added a nice contrasting texture to the otherwise slightly one-dimensional croissant.

The warm and crisp pastries may not make for the most filling meal, but they’re a nice accompaniment to the coffee. I can attest to the quality of their coffee, which are roasted in house.

Whether you are having a day out with your friends or spending some alone time with a book, Alchemist is a lovely place to swing by for your caffeine fix.

Expected Damage: S$3 – S$6 per pax