A clam and relaxing vibe around the residential part of Tiong Bahru is a good start for a morning start. More so, when one can combine it with a tasty shot of espresso (and a side dish) at Forty Hands.

As I walked around the lush streets of Tiong Bahru it was easy to miss this spot which was hidden in the uniform setting of the surrounding buildings. Hungry enough I finally made it inside and got a seat at the bar. The name came from the inspiration of taking 40 hands to produce a single cup of coffee from bean to crop – very interesting. The ambience was quite relaxed with some patrons on their laptop, grab-and-go coffee lovers coming and going and an even quieter space at the back. Apart from a tasty enough poached eggs on avocado toast dish, I didn’t get to try other food but everything on display seemed tasty enough.

Most importantly, their single origin double espresso was remarkable. Overall, a nice vibe, good aesthetics and good service at this local coffee joint off the beaten path.