Equate Coffee: Tanjong Pagar's Minimalist Coffee Joint
There is no shortage of aesthetically pleasing cafes in Tanjong Pagar, as many coffeehouses call the Duxton area home. There’s Parallel Coffee Roasters, Bearded Bella, and Butler Koffee all within walking distance of each other.
However, at Tanjong Pagar plaza, there’s one located at the corner of the second floor named Equate Coffee that I’ve been wanting to try for months now.
Equate Coffee actually opened earlier this year in March, but when I visited on one of first few weeks of opening, we couldn’t get a table even towards closing.
Now that the hype and crowds have settled a little, I finally managed to head over.
As you push through the glass doors, the interior features an entrance that looks like a meteor crashed through, with tables conducive for dining in pairs.
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Fans of minimalist cafes will love how sleek this space is, and the stark white canvas and accents of gold brighten up the space considerably, especially as daylight seeps in from both ends of the cafe.
As a result, Equate’s space looks a lot bigger on first glance than it actually is.
Espresso-based drinks are made with a blend of beans from Brazil and Sumatra, and you can expect to find the usual suspects— with a single shot of espresso beginning at S$3.
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We had the Iced White (S$6.50) and Iced White with Soy Milk (S$7.50).
Coffee here has a nutty flavour, and is served with aesthetically pleasing gradients.
Stirrers can be obtained at the counter, and everything is served on a white tray lined with a disposable paper sheet, printed with the mathematical symbols that are also their logo.
Whilst I did mention that the use of trays looked a bit cheap at Dough, a new cafe that recently opened at Chijmes, I didn’t mind them here as the trays at Equate do fit the overall aesthetic.
They also serve filter coffee, local coffee options like Kopi-O and Kopi, as well as tea.
They have a set of bakes at the counter too, and I couldn’t leave without trying the famed Mount Ondeh (S$7).
The ondeh ondeh cake is made in the shape of a mountain, complete with a cream cheese centre and topped with gula melaka.
The sponge was moist and flavourful, though I didn’t taste much of the cream cheese as opposed to the pandan and gula melaka— but this was a plus for me.
Some might find it sweet, but I thought that made it balance well with the coffee, so the whole experience tied together pretty nicely.
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Considering it’s as close to housing estates as it is to offices, Equate Coffee definitely attracts a nice mix of customers, and it’s one I wouldn’t mind regularly popping in for a visit.
Especially with the way there might be a higher chance of it not being overwhelmingly crowded these days, at least on weekday afternoons.
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WHERE | 1 TANJONG PAGAR PLAZA, #02-25, SINGAPORE 082001
