Coffee Break: Third-Gen Hawkers Who Believe In Work-Life Balance Sell Unusual Coffee & Toasts At Amoy Street Food Centre

A usual routine of many Singaporeans consists of grabbing their kopi, or even toasts from hawker centres to food courts. A particular store that stands out for its unique toast-and-coffee offerings is Coffee Break

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Situated on the second level of Amoy Street Food Centre, Coffee Break serves traditional coffees, teas and toasts, but with an unusual modern twist to their menu which could #trigger some kopi lovers who love their drinks in its honest form. The three musketeers who continue the kopi legacy of their grandparents, as well as their father, are Faye, Anna and Jack.  

As a trio, they work together to make Coffee Break a coffee shop that is distinctively different from your typical drink stall found in hawker centres as well as kopitiam’s, but at the same time keeping the traditions alive with their Nanyang Coffee. One might ask, what roles do they play in Coffee Break? Faye, whom I spoke to when I visited Coffee Break, handles the business development side as well as the events aspect of the business, while her brother, Jack works in research and development for the brand. Her sister, Anna, meanwhile, handles operations and human resources.   

I was rather intrigued by the simplistic yet smart shop name, ‘Coffee Break’.  

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Faye, explained that it came about rather naturally—her dad was in China travelling when he was inspired by the Chinese characters he saw, ‘咖啡怏座’, which also means ‘coffee grab-and-go’. And that was how the stall’s name was born.   

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Menu plastered at the side of Coffee Break stall

Their menu is plastered all over their store, from the front of the stall to the sides, which is best for individuals like me who tend to be indecisive right at the front of the stall. Faye, one of the three siblings behind Coffee Break, started working for the family business after her A-Levels, and soon after saw selling kopi as a viable livelihood—essentially taking it up as a full-time job. She was honest, and heartedly commented that one of the perks of opening a coffee shop was free coffee.

She believes in work-life balance, which explains why Coffee Break only operates on weekdays, and they close on weekends to recharge themselves from the hard work they put in for the week.   

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They constantly seek to improve their menu with feedback from the public, and is always on the lookout for innovative ideas from their overseas adventures—getting inspired by various flavours found in other countries. Travelling helps to broaden their palate, inspiring them to be experimental with flavours that one might never come across, or even think of. 

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In fact, they do not follow market trends, but focus on setting trends with their flavours through trial and error. Some rather interesting flavours you’ll find are the Macadamia, Caramel Rum, Sea Salt Mint and many more. 

Do not be fooled at how simple their drinks sound. They use quality ingredients to produce the drinks, like their Sea Salt Caramel Drink (from S$4) for instance. Using sea salt, paired with caramel syrup, the latte is made up of 75% arabica beans and 25% local Nanyang beans, assuring you a drink that is not lacking in quality.   

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Left to right: Pistachio Latte, Hojicha Latte, Iced Kopi-C Kosong With Cream Mousse, Mango Milk Teh Peng With Yoghurt Mousse

I took an immediate interest in their menu with their popular drinks like their Hojicha Latte (S$4.80), as well as their Pistachio Latte (S$4). Besides those, Faye also recommended that I try their modern take on traditional beverages such as the Iced Kopi-C Kosong With Cream Mousse (S$2.90), as well as the Mango Milk Teh Peng With Yoghurt Mousse (S$4.50).

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The Hojicha Latte tasted nutty, with a hint of sweetness that was not too much for an individual like me who despises sugary drinks. In fact, it was very milky with a faint taste of hojichaFor those who prefer a strong roasted green tea flavour, this drink is definitely not for you.

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The Pistachio Latte, meanwhile, had an espresso-strength depth, and did not have a strong enough pistachio flavour to balance out the coffee taste, which was a letdown.    

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There are toppings you can choose to add on to the iced drinks, such as Cream Mousse (S$1.30), Yoghurt Mousse (S$1.30), and Cheese Mousse (S$1.50).

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The Mango Milk Teh Peng is my favourite drink amongst all of the drinks, and I would like to thank Faye for recommending it to me.  

I was wary before I took my first sip as many mango-flavoured drinks out there are just too sugary, leaving me distastefully thirsty. Turns out, this drink satisfied the mango lover in me. The mango was delightfully balanced out with the milk, and the fragrance of the tea surprisingly complemented the fruity aspect of the drink.  

Craving for some toast to go with the drinks, I ordered the Rum & Raisin Toast (S$3.50) and the Cinnamon Sugar Toast (S$3.50). I noticed the bread they used for the toasts were wholegrain, which gave it better texture and was more filling.  

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The Rum & Raisin Toast did not have the light, sweet flavour of rum as one would expect; instead, it was faint and was overpowered by the whipped cream. That said, it was not bad, just that I expected a stronger taste of rum and raisin in the toast.   

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Meanwhile, the Cinnamon Sugar Toast was much preferred, with the toast covered in cinnamon on the inside, sprinkled with some sugar. The sweet woody fragrance was delightful, and it was satisfying.  

Speaking of sugar, here’s something sweet for Coffee Break lovers. 

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 Those who are interested in getting their traditional Nanyang coffee, they are currently retailing their house-made items on Shopee and Lazada.     

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Try their coffee powder, tea dust, as well as their Nespresso-compatible capsule coffee which is fantastic for those who love having the convenience of Nespresso machines.

After chatting with Faye, I admire how passionate she is with the business, as well as being open to feedback from the public—being innovative and always willing to push the boundaries of the business. 


With their vibrant menu and the variety of options offered at Coffee Break, you will be spoilt for choice with their items that definitely stand out from other coffee shops. 

Expected Damage: S$1.60 – S$8 per pax 

Price: $

Our Rating: 4 / 5

Coffee Break

7 Maxwell Road, Amoy Street Food Centre, #02-78, Singapore 069111

Price
Our Rating 4/5

Coffee Break

7 Maxwell Road, Amoy Street Food Centre, #02-78, Singapore 069111

Telephone: +65 6264 5114
Operating Hours: 8am - 5pm (Mon to Fri), Closed on Sat & Sun
Telephone: +65 6264 5114

Operating Hours: 8am - 5pm (Mon to Fri), Closed on Sat & Sun

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