Cata Coffee

I really do like the friendly people n service here .
One of the few places that has milk brew , Coarse grounds steeped in milk for 5 hours, which produces this milky coffee that is very low in acidity

One of the places that opened their doors on the very weekend that we were in Penang was Cata Coffee — for those whom have been in tabs with the local F&B scene here, Cata Coffee might be a very familiar name for a few; yes, these folks are the same Cata Coffee that had once operated out of The Bakery by Woodlands Sourdough when the latter was still located at Serene Centre. These folks had been operating as an online-based business for quite a while, retailing the coffee beans which they have roasted — that being said, these folks had recently opened a brick-and-mortar shop. Located in the quaint neighbourhood of Joo Chiat, Cata Coffee is located along Joo Chiat Place not too far away from Pelle and Pepe Sourdough Bread & Pastries. A space that primarily focuses on their specialty coffee, the interior is fitted in a way that encourages a high turnover — bum rests are installed on the wall for patrons to lean on, while the communal tables are long but narrow to maximise the space that they have to work around; located in the middle would be the espresso bar and the counter where all the bakes are displayed prominently outwards to attract passers-by. We loved how the interior exudes a sense of European charm with contemporary elements; the ceiling with its features of coloured acrylic reminds us of some places overseas where colourful drapes of cloth hanging above buildings — the lighting of the space creates a colourful and bright vibe that doesn’t get in the way of the eyes. With them being the main tenant of the space, Cata Coffee has partnered up with Saga Bakeshop (yet another online-based business) to serve up a line-up of bread, quiches, cakes and cookies for patrons to pair up with their cuppa — all of which being baked fresh daily.

Skimming through the various bakes by Saga Bakeshop that are being displayed in the display case, the Egg & Ricotta Simit Pizza was an item that caught our attention likely due to us wanting to go for something savoury for our first food item to have for the day. Offering two (2) different types of Simit Pizza, we found ourselves opting for the Egg & Ricotta rendition. Not much is described about the item, though they did mention that this is a Turkish Bagel. It can be observed that the Egg & Ricotta Simit Pizza comes with an egg, ricotta cheese as well as some herbs whilst being speckled with sesame seeds on the exterior; the folks also do ask if their patrons would like their bakes to be warmed up at the counter — something which we did go for. Taking a bite into the Egg & Ricotta Simit Pizza, the bread carried a firm bite that one would associate with a bagel; it is no wonder how the Simit Pizza is also being dubbed the Turkish Bagel as well — the specks of sesame carried a good fragrance to the bread, while the bagel itself is one that carried a slight tang that one would typically associate with sourdough bread. As one goes closer towards the middle of the Egg & Ricotta Simit Pizza, one would find a slight savouriness and saltishness stemming from the cheese and the egginess from the hardboiled egg; there is also a hint of pesto-like notes that came from the herbs as well — all in all a very delicious breakfast treat for one that is looking for something heavier to have.

We also went for the Flat White during our visit to Cata Coffee; whilst they do serve their specialty coffee in proper cups for those whom are dining in, we weren’t sure why we were served with a takeaway cup instead. Notwithstanding so, it is noted that the Flat White is brewed using beans of a Brazilian origin; said to carry notes of cherry, prune syrup and chocolate cream. The Flat White here was smooth and creamy; came with a good proportion of milk and coffee and is well-pulled; the cuppa carrying a medium body with a fruity flavour profile that is rather interesting for a Flat White. Cata Coffee had always been noted for their consistency for their coffee whilst also carrying coffee that comes with pretty unique and interesting tasting notes that piques the interest of the coffee aficionado — this still remains true even with the establishment of their very own brick-and-mortar shop at Joo Chiat Place. We also liked how they had recreated that vibe that was once familiar to that of their times being co-located with The Bakery by Woodlands Sourdough by bringing in Saga Bakeshop as well. The Easties had always been known to be a lucky bunch — and definitely even more so now that they have Cata Coffee right in their ‘hood!