That feeling of Japan without going to the Land of Rising Sun

Dawn,Singapore | https://www.instagram.com/dawnkissa/

Dec 04, 2022

Let me begin by thanking each one of you for subscribing, following and liking my Coffee Blogs, Cafelogues, Coffeelogues whatever name you want to give. When I started a few weeks ago, I was not sure if I could be consistent in posting.

Oh boy, it gives me immense pleasure to share with you that we’re already on Cafelogue No.14. WoW!

First, the Café: Are we in Japan?

Makes you feel so! But while searching for this amazing café called DAWN in Singapore, I went past the place multiple times blaming Google Maps for taking me to the wrong location in Clarke Quay area. I had to ask my friend who reached DAWN earlier than me to stand outside to identify this awesome Cafe!

Here goes an exceptional experience. The outer facade of DAWN is designed to resemble a Japanese home. Known as Genkan in Japanese, the entrance features a nameplate, and a longitudinal window just like an enlarged mailbox against a light-coloured wall.

Stepping through the wooden door, I felt that I had just entered a Japanese Omakase restaurant, with a single long wooden coffee bar counter elevated like a sushi bar.

With 5 bar counter seats and a communal table that can seat another 5 persons at the rear end of the cafe, DAWN is not a huge space to begin with so please be prepared with some waiting time. Interestingly, their espresso machine is not placed at the bar counter but against the wall, so that the baristas can have deeper conversation with diners seating along the long bar table.

I really liked the raw, unfinished textured concrete walls which creates a natural vibe, coupled with distressed limestone table-top and warm lighting for a super cosy experience, perfect Hygge!

This gorgeous Japanese aesthetic Cafe is set up by Ex-Kurasu Cafe Head Barista along with his coffee friend Jane. While the whole space may seem a little peaceful, you can hear Jane’s laughter and checking in with the diners occasionally.

The menu is short and concise, focusing on their artisanal specialty coffee with both espresso-based drinks and filtered coffee. I went with Slow Pour method for my coffee.

Then, the Beans:

DAWN gets their single origin beans from Ethiopia and Colombia roasted by Manhattan Coffee Roasters for Filtered Coffees / Manual Brews. I’ll cover this Roastery and their full line of coffees separately in January 2023.

These are some of the best of the harvest from Manhattan’s partners at origin or traders they work with. Clear in flavour and an extremely satisfying cup of coffee.

Manhattan Coffee Roasters Label : Exceptional

This Castillo comes by way of Diego Bermudez who is the owner of the El Paraiso farms in Cauca, Colombia. Diego is an absolute genius when it comes to advanced methodology in coffee processing.

·       Origin : Colombia
·      Tastes like : Raspberry, Turkish delight, Lychee
·       Processing : Thermal shock anaerobic
·       Altitude : 1800masl
·       Variety : Castillo

Even though seating space is very limited, there is a certain charm to DAWN, especially sipping on a cup of coffee in the early morning, they open at 8am most days and watching the world goes by through the little glass door.