Right on top of Sheung Wan station you’ll find Amber Coffee Brewery. So it’s an easy cafe to just drop into and check out! When we were visiting them, they happened to be serving the coffee that had won the World Barista Championship. It was our first time to taste their coffee and it was nice to try something that was unique, though it was on a special menu – not their standard one. As a bonus, we were able to taste it in his cafe prepared using the same machine setup that was used as the standard at the world championship; a Victoria Arduino Black Eagle espresso machine and a special edition EK 43 grinder. It’s a tiny cafe but there is attention to detail when it comes to flavor and even service-ware.
The B Side is a great spot for late night coffee. Most cafés close earlier in the town they are from, Kota Kinabalu. Dinner service is a thing for them, so it makes for a good place to have coffee while you enjoy eating a late meal. The independent store vibe — being a stand alone café in a residential area — is pleasant one, with a staff that evidently takes pride in their craft. Not that Kota Kinabalu is a place full of chains, it isn’t. But most of the few great cafes they have are spread out, so when you find a great neighborhood café like The B Side, it become a nice little refuge.
We visited the south of metro manila in pursuit of great coffee finds. Our first stop was Need Coffee, inside a village that spans 3 cities. Entering their shop will immediately give you a feel that there is already an existing community inside, most likely the outcome of having staff that’s comprised of young and friendly people. There is also a wide range of options for pour-overs roasted in different countries. If you want to introduce your palate to different origins of coffee, Need Coffee is a good place to start.
