Adelphi and Co might be our favourite coffee shop in Kota Kinabalu. A multi-roaster cafe, they were serving Papa Palheta coffees on espresso when we visited. Also featured were single origin pour overs from Finnish roastery, Kaffa Roasters and Koppi from Sweden. Between these options, you get a nice sampling of expressions from Europe, Africa, and Asia. There is an obvious high amount of attention paid to quality here, and an even higher amount paid to culture. The staff is friendly and this attracts a friendly bunch of customers too. And even though Adelphi and Co is very much coffee-forward, the dining menu and other beverages — such as a healthy wine selection — are equally excellent.
So simple, so complex. Adelphi & Co’s coffee soda starts with a cold brew concentrate to which soda water is added upon every order. The soda water really opens up the flavor of the cold brew revealing inherent sweetness and spacing out the layers of flavor without any additives. The result is a pretty healthy version of an energy drink in the middle of the afternoon.
