Many of us would balk at the idea of starting our day off without a steaming hot cup of coffee. For some, it’s a leisurely indulgence, for others, a crucial means of survival. With 400 billion cups consumed globally each year, coffee has rightfully earned its place as a staple on kitchen counters and cafe tables around the world.
While most of us would prefer an artfully crafted, barista-made coffee creation fresh off the espresso machine from our favourite cafe every day, we often have to make do with the more convenient home brew. Whether your method of choice is the classic French press, the chic Chemex or the calming Pour-over, choosing a local roaster to supply your coffee needs will not only mean a fresher brew and a wider variety of flavours, but also a chance to support local businesses.
As we raise our mugs to celebrate International Coffee Day, here’s a list of local coffee roasters to bring you all the bean-flavoured fuel you need.
Ghostbird Coffee
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Operating under the motto, ‘Everyone deserves a better coffee’, Ghostbird is committed to not only making quality coffee accessible to the community, but also to building a platform on which people from all backgrounds can converse, share and learn more about coffee. This is reflected in their blogs which provide explanations on all things coffee, as well as the introductory videos on social media covering topics from filters to grind size. Those looking for a festive twist in their coffee will enjoy Ghostbird’s limited edition blends for occasions such as Chinese New Year and Merdeka. W ghostbirdcoffee.co
Collective
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Quality and sustainability are at the heart of Collective’s work. Careful consideration of every coffee’s origin allows the roaster to source distinctive, characteristic coffees that translate into satisfying brews. With uncompromisingly high standards for the green coffee beans used, Collective aims to roast each batch in a way that brings out their unique attributes. A favourite signature blend of the team’s is the Sweet Series, which provides a fruity caffeine kick with notes of grapefruits and raisins and a creamy body. W collective.com.my
Forest Cloud
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Bringing together the finest raw ingredients with the most efficient technology, Forest Cloud’s aims to elevate the flavours of a cuppa while remaining true to its natural flavours. To maintain quality and consistency, this Penang-based roaster diligently sources beans from reputable farms, and hand picks only the best ones after roasting. A mainstay blend at Forest Cloud is the Blue Moon, which gives off hints of fruity aroma while its body is a balance of creamy and acidic, leaving a cacao finish. W forestcloud.com.my
Brew & Bread
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At Brew & Bread, the core belief is that an exceptional coffee should do more than taste great, it should enhance all facets of life. The boutique roaster is dedicated to producing specialty coffee, with its brand lead Kok Thong often travelling to various producing regions in search of unconventional and high quality green beans. Among its most well-known blends is Driver, which is described as comforting yet bold, as well as Sugar Daddy, which promises a ‘seductive’ and ‘elegant’ drinking experience. W brewnbread.com
Artisan Roastery
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An early pioneer in Malaysia’s specialty coffee roasting scene, Artisan Roastery began crafting specialty coffee in 2010 and gradually grew a sizable following of coffee lovers with a taste for fresh, high quality roasts. With a continual focus on experimentation, pushing boundaries, and seeking out the latest in roasting and coffee preparation, the roaster has expanded and upgraded their facilities in order to better serve their passionate customers. In addition to interesting blends like the Blackbird with flavour notes like Yellow Raisin, Sticky Pudding, Chocolate Chip Cookie, Artisan Roast also developed bottled espresso concentrates that meet the need for convenience without sacrificing flavour. W ar-roast.com
Cloud Catcher
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For Cloud Catcher, coffee is an art and a science. Driven by a desire to serve the needs of coffee connoisseurs, the team takes care to make sure each step in the coffee production process is expertly carried out, from farming to brewing. In addition to being a specialty coffee producer, Cloud Catcher is a certified Specialty Coffee Association (SCA) Campus that aims to share their passion for coffee trade and craft. Its specialty milk based blend, Rubix, was formulated by World Barista Champion Sasa Sestic, and contains tasting notes of butterscotch toffee with a rich cocoa finish. W cloudcatcher.asia
The Roast Things
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With a wholehearted belief that quality coffee happens at the source, The Roast Things places a priority on working closely with coffee farms and maintaining relationships with them. Without relying on over roasting coffees, the roaster ensures each cup served is colourful and delicious, while balancing acidity with just enough sweetness. The flagship blend, Milk Killer, provides a sweet and smooth cup with a rich milk chocolate flavour and hints of pink grapefruit. W theroastthings.com
JWC Roastery
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Established in 2009, JWC Roastery was developed out of a passion for bringing a sensory coffee drinking experience by selecting beans of the highest quality with interesting origins. Associated with gourmet and exotic coffee, the company produces blends that stand out, both in terms of tastes and aesthetics. JWC’s signature blends include the Pink Panther, which uses two kinds of Colombian beans and contains notes of strawberry ice cream, raspberry juice and chocolate brownies. Another signature house blend, the Caramel Popcorn, is nutty with notes of citrus, caramel and chocolate, with a mild bitterness that pairs well with milk. W justwantcoffee.com