Alchemist (Asia Square)

Fruit Cake
Christmas blend featuring single origins from Brazil, Ethiopia and Colombia
Tasting Notes: Black Cherry, Chocolate Truffle, Nougat

Alchemist seems to be one of those brands that is pretty much a stronghold in the local F&B scene of the late — having expanded its operations to several notable locations in the year, it does seem like the folks at Alchemist are not showing any signs of stopping just yet. 2023 has marked the opening of their iconic Robinson Road outlet at 71 Robinson, as well as the outlet at The Heeren — both locations being not just one that emphasises on their specialty coffee offerings, but also in terms of the aesthetic factors that went into the consideration and design of the space. With the lobby of Asia Square Tower 1 being revamped, it does seem that it has attracted some new F&B tenants to occupy the space. Alchemist had pretty much joined the likes of KYŌ KOHEE which had also opened recently at Asia Square; Alchemist at Asia Square occupies the shop unit that is tucked right at the back of Asia Square with a dual frontage that faces both One Shenton and upcoming IOI Central Boulevard development. Much like the other locations that Alchemist operates, there is a lot of emphasis placed on the interior decor here — one that sees an earthy maroon colour scheme with metallic elements for a modern touch; there are also attempts to reduce the number of sharp edges around the entire shop space to make the space more soothing to the eyes. Given the attention placed into an outlet with a kiosk-style operation, the Alchemist outlet at Asia Square is probably the most aesthetic takeaway-only location that they run thus far.

Despite its emphasis on the decor and vibes of the entire space even for its outlets at The Heeren, The Mill, Khong Guan Building and 71 Robinson, Alchemist had never detracted away from its beginnings from being a brand name that is deep-rooted within the third-wave coffee movement — the same can be said about their outlet at Asia Square. While they do offer a variety of bakes and danishes that are sourced from The Bakehaus which is a bakery that also has its own retail space at Owen Road (they do supply their pastries across various cafes and even in supermarkets around the island), Alchemist had a pretty clear direction in which they are known for their expertise and craft in specialty coffee. The experience at their Asia Square location can be described as fuss-free; they only offer espresso-based coffees that are brewed using their Dark Matter blend of beans which they have roasted by themselves — patrons would be able to choose between three different types of beans from various origins if one decides to go for the Pourover. We opted for the Iced White considering the sweltering heat these days and we must say that Alchemist’s Iced White is still particularly balanced despite being a cold drink; one that came with a distinct fruity note in its body that transitions into a nutty finish — a cuppa that is pretty bold in its flavour as well. Alchemist had always consistently delivered as is pretty much a name that has earned its reputation within the local coffee scene from the ground up during its simpler days as a coffee kiosk at International Plaza — pretty amazing to see how far they had come after all these years; a brand that always seem to be revolutionising themselves and growing with the local coffee scene whilst solidifying their identity. While their offerings are predictable by now, we are stoked to see what’s next in their pipeline — a spot that is able to consistently deliver in quality, yet carries a different image with every iteration that comes in between.