We usually wouldn’t be too bothered with big brand collaborations but the Coach Cafe by Brawn & Brains Coffee was something that we really could not give a miss — after all, the Coach Cafe by Brawn & Brains is the very first time the favourite place is collaborating with a fashion brand in operating a cafe space with a retail element (also a first for Coach as well); this rendition being a pop-up that will be operating till 2024. Housed in a three-story shophouse at 5 Keong Saik Road, the cafe is housed on the ground floor of the Coach Play store — decked in a playful pastel yellow and pink colour, one could only say that the cafe has a pretty cheerful aesthetic; the yellow is actually rather reminiscent of the same colour which adorns their space at their Guillemard Road outlet previously that is currently undergoing renovations. The second level consists of the retail area where one could possibly pick up some vintage pieces that are one-of—kind, while the third level is an immersive digital experience where one gets to understand that craftsmanship that goes on in the Coach DNA. Serving up “an authentic taste of New York City”, Coach Cafe by Brawn & Brains serves up two different menus in its staggered operating hours — the cafe serves up an All Day Breakfast and Mains & Salad menu between 9:00am to 3:00pm, while it transforms into a cafe that serves up desserts during its operations from 6pm to 9pm; think items such as that of the Signature Ice Cream Sundae, The Coach Hot Chocolate and Dream It Real S'mores. We also note the availability of the donuts usually available at Brawn & Brains Coffee at Coach Cafe by Brawn & Brains; this includes a not-so-familiar flavour that is the Cherries & Cream Donut. Beverages available at Coach Cafe by Brawn & Brains include specialty coffee using beans that they had roasted by themselves (as always), as well as a variety of tea sourced from Roji Tea. Other interesting beverages available here that isn’t available at the two Brawn & Brains outlets include the Classic Vanilla Milkshake and the Gula Melaka milkshake.

Dropping by Coach Cafe by Brawn & Brains during its evening operations, we were pretty much spoilt for choice with their dessert offerings — most of which are only available exclusively at this location. Amongst the few desserts listed on the menu, we went for The Hangtag Surprise. Based on the description on the menu, The Hangtag Surprise comes with elements such as Vanilla ice-cream, mixed berries compote and surprise fillings in a chocolate hangtag. The Hangtag Surprise comes with the chocolate hangtag, the vanilla ice-cream and strawberries being served on the plate — all that while the mixed berries compote comes separately; all with a wooden hammer on the side. One is supposed to hit the chocolate hangtag with the wooden hammer to break it open to reveal the surprise within. Breaking the chocolate hangtag open, the chocolate hangtag reveals items such as a cookies, freeze-dried fruits, chocolate-coated biscuits, honeycomb bits and cookie crumbles within — the different elements adding a contrast of textures and varying levels of sweetness that adds on to the chocolate shell. The vanilla ice-cream and mixed berries compote would be very similar to what Brawn & Brains Coffee in their menu at Hamilton Road and East Coast Road — that vanilla ice-cream coming with a smooth and sticky texture being sufficiently dense, while the mixed berries compote carried a zippy note that cuts through all of that sweetness. Overall, a dessert that was distinctly Brawn & Brains Coffee considering some of the elements that went into it, though still one that was quite something that we would not have expected that the folks at Brawn & Brains Coffee would have done, with the Coach Play store also being a destination for those whom would like to know what goes into the making of Coach as a luxury brand — looking forward to give more of the exclusive items at Coach Cafe by Brawn & Brains a go some time soon!