Apartment Coffee

Hidden in plain sight along Selegie Road. I didn’t even notice the signboard. From the outside, it looks more like a minimalist art gallery than a café But step inside, you quickly understand why this unassuming spot has been crowned The Best Coffee Shop in Asia for two consecutive years and ranked 6th best in the world ☕️ ✨ Natural light pours into the space, bouncing off clean white walls and high ceilings. It feels calm and deliberate, almost like stepping into someone’s beautifully styled home. The space features a long bar counter, cosy sofa seats in the corner, small coffee tables, and a long communal table running through the middle. This is a space to really slow down, sit, and actually let the Coffee speak. The café can get packed. We joined the queue right after weekend lunch. Shortly after, a small line was forming outside. Note that there is a one-hour seating limit. Built entirely around their ceramic cups, Apartment Coffee don’t offer food or takeaways. Every brew is meant to be enjoyed right in the space. I love this mindful, eco-friendly approach I tried the Kenyan pourover. While I usually avoid fruity notes, this filtered cup was mildly acidic, clean and easy to drink. Interestingly, the flavor profile beautifully evolved as the ceramic cup cooled down.

We were having roti prata nearby when my former boss, who is a coffee lover, mentioned that Apartment Coffee at Selegie was ranked 6th Best Coffee Shop in the World. Since it was within walking distance, we decided to pop over when they opened at 10am. There was already a queue when we arrived, and by the time we finally settled down, there were even more people waiting outside! 😄 I am definitely not a coffee expert. I am more used to our good old strong kopitiam kopi, so this visit was mainly for the experience. The coffee I ordered tasted a little light and mild to me, but that could simply be my personal preference. What I did enjoy was the place itself. It is clean, bright and spacious, and the staff were polite and professional. Watching them carefully prepare each cup also made me realise how much work and precision goes into specialty coffee. Will I come back? Yes, probably when my former boss visits Singapore again. He appreciates good coffee much more than I do! ☕😄

One of the most memorable cups I’ve had in Singapore! Ethiopia Lalesa is beautifully expressive, with a multi-layered profile. The aroma lingers for a good while after each sip, and what surprised me was how clean and balanced the cup remained even after almost an hour. It never turned flat or bitter! The team clearly cares about what they have to offer here. The lady who guided us through the menu spoke with enthusiasm without making it feel intimidating. The space can get a little lively, but it adds to the energy of the café rather than taking away from it. Looking out towards the row of old Singapore housing across the street adds to the vibe of the place. Definitely worth a stop on your trip!

I've been here a few times and the service has been okay. But last month it was a bit lacking, perhaps because it was busy. The filter coffee was still pleasant to drink, not too hot, and the aroma was also very pleasant. The flat white lacked a punch, or perhaps the beans were different. But overall, I'd try again. The place is still comfortable, but it's a bit noisy from outside, perhaps because it's near the main road.

Didn't understand the hype about this place and sad to say it failed expectations. Visited on a tues morning. Service was inconsistent, made to wait outside in the sun when there were available seatings indoors. Basic courtesy to usher customer in, at least to wait in the aircon comfort. Wasn't served water until I flagged them down 20mins later while they were busy encouraging table hogging by refilling other customers' water (these customers had finished their coffee) definitely wasnt worth the 30mins wait after ordering, on a tues morning and that was after repeated enquiry on when exactly my order will be fulfilled. They should have informed about the long waiting time before I ordered. Obviously the coffee standards cannot match up to such a long wait and lacking service.

I had high expectations after hearing so many wonderful things about Apartment Coffee and travelled about 40 minutes specifically to visit. I ordered the Brazil Santa Alina pour-over, which was described as having dried fruit, hazelnut, and sweet chocolate notes. Unfortunately, the cup I received was quite underwhelming. I found it very bland, with almost no discernible aroma, very little flavour development, and a thin body that left the cup feeling rather dilute. I travel quite a bit and always make a point of visiting local coffee shops wherever I go, so I've been fortunate to experience many excellent cafés around the world. As a coffee enthusiast, I know that one cup doesn't represent an entire café, and it's entirely possible I chose a less remarkable option on the menu. I can't speak for the other coffees on the menu. Given Apartment Coffee's reputation as one of Singapore's top coffee destinations, I do hope that every coffee on the menu can leave a lasting impression, especially for customers who make a special trip to visit. If I were rating the coffee alone, it would have been 2 stars. However, the staff were warm, welcoming, and professional throughout my visit, so I feel 3 stars is a fair reflection of my overall experience.

Apartment Cafe knows how to honor the bean. Their pour-over technique is dialed in beautifully, you can taste the precision in every extraction. The mixture is well-balanced acidity up front, a clean body through the middle, and a finish that’s genuinely sensational, that lingering aftertaste tells you the roast and the brew ratio were both on point. This is clearly a spot that respects the craft, not just the caffeine. Do note: expect a 15-30 min wait and a queue, which tracks quality pour-over isn’t meant to be rushed, and it shows in the cup. Pricing is fair for the level of care going into each brew. If you’re chasing that third-wave coffee experience - sensory, deliberate, unhurried, then this might be for you!

On 13 August I visited Apartment Coffee and ordered their filter coffee, Kenya Maganjo. It was surprisingly refreshing, bright and clean, with strong, distinctive notes of rosehip. I also tried their signature coffee with milk, served as a flat white. It was excellent: balanced, comforting, and beautifully made. The atmosphere of the café is one I genuinely love.