Toby’s Estate – Espresso Bar and Coffee House

Launched in October 2011, Toby’s Estate sits in the picturesque enclave of Robertson Quay. At the forefront of the coffee industry in Australia, Toby’s Estate has finally expanded its empire to Singapore where coffee aficionados have been anticipating its opening.

The casual café introduces a diverse range of coffee, including high altitude Arabica beans from around the globe, and sophisticated brewing techniques. The beans are combined such that their flavours complement one another without losing their individual qualities.

As you enter, you will smell the enticing aroma of freshly ground coffee. What greets you is a gigantic steel roaster that reaches the top of the 6 metre tall ceiling.

The spacious, modern rustic setting allows patrons to feel at ease. The high ceiling makes a visually impressive interior; brightly lit and airy, with natural light illuminating the café through tall windows. Do not miss the large hand-painted mural above the counter that illustrates the coffee journey from the bean to the cup.

If you so wish, you may opt for alfresco seating where you can enjoy the fresh air and occasional river breeze.

Along the long bench where you can have a cuppa with your companions, you will find a coffee tree sprouting from the centre.

Sacks of high quality coffee beans imported from all over the world are stacked up at the side of the café, waiting to be roasted.

Coffee beans are roasted and brewed daily on-site, ensuring freshness and control of the flavour profile of the beans, preventing any loss of their delicate flavours and aromas.

The best seat in the house has to be at the counter bar, where you can witness the coffee action going on behind the counters as the baristas inject passion into every concoction.

All the baristas are technically experienced in coffee brewing and are further trained specially in the field by a highly experienced coffee roaster master. Singapore’s award winning barista, Suhaimie, is the second hire right after Alvaro Sanchez from Australia.

On one side of the counter you will find glass beakers and flasks resembling a chemistry lab set-up. You will discover different extraction methods such as the Chemex and Siphon.

Currently, Toby’s Estate is showcasing three Cup of Excellence Origins from Costa Rica, Guatemala and Colombia.

You can go for the Rodyk blend, named after Rodyk Street, the café’s address in Singapore. This house blend is a smooth coffee with a spicy nose and long lingering berry chocolate after-taste. It tastes great with milk and is very well rounded as an espresso.

Espresso
S$3.50++ / S$5++ with milk

Porcelain mugs are excellent in allowing coffee to taste its best; porcelain maintains the warmth longer which helps preserves the flavour.

If espressos are too intense for your liking, then go for a cup of latte with perfectly frothed milk instead.

Babycino
S$3++

For a kid-friendly beverage, try the Babycino, a hot chocolate drink.

To complement the beverages, a beautiful array of handmade pastries is available, sedulously sourced from local independent bakers.

As Toby’s Estate is still adjusting the food menu, the following introductory dishes may or may not be available in future.

Fresh fruit salad
Price unavailable

The fresh fruit salad comprises of watermelon, papaya, pineapple, blueberries, strawberries and pears served with a side of yoghurt. It is a healthy and refreshing way to kick-start your day with something light on your digestive system.

Tomato salad with pomegranate
Price unavailable

The tomato salad with pomegranate boasts thick succulent slices of tomatoes, with pomegranate arils adding lovely textures. The acidity in the fruits is well balanced with the liberal drizzle of dressing that is light and overall nicely seasoned.

This salad is great for the heart and throat, providing a rich source of vitamins and a healthful counterbalance to a diet high in sweet-fatty components.

Ham and scrambled eggs
Price unavailable

A hearty and nutritious breakfast provides fuel for a busy day ahead! While the ham and scrambled eggs is not yet available on the menu, an interesting alternative is Toby’s Breakfast, a composition of scrambled eggs, back bacon, roasted tomatoes and sautéed mushrooms served with fresh orange juice (S$18++).

Smoked salmon and eggs
Price unavailable

Beans on toast
Price unavailable

Load up on fibres and carbohydrates with beans on toast. The beans are sufficiently soft, with the bread slightly dampened by the sauce yet maintaining its crispy crust.

Green salad with balsamic dressing
S$8++

For the health junkies, you can go for the palate cleansing green salad with balsamic dressing. This low calorie salad is a mixture of fresh greens, composed of both leafy and non-leafy vegetables. Amidst the varying shades of green you will find lettuce varieties, rocket greens, cucumber and long beans torn into bite-sized fragments and tossed with oil and vinegar.

Asian chicken and noodle salad
Price unavailable

The Asian chicken and noodle salad encompasses a magnificent interplay of ingredients, soba noodles, bite-sized chicken pieces, lettuce, cucumber, onions, red bell peppers and a generous sprinkle of crushed peanuts to name a few. The tender chicken has a familiar taste, which I recognise as being somewhat similar to Hainanese chicken. The contrasting blend of tastes and textures is ingratiating and makes a mouthwatering revelation.

If you are inspired to brew your own drink, coffee beans, tea leaves and drinking chocolate are available for purchase, as well as coffee equipment and accessories.

The drinking chocolate is a unique blend of the cocoa with powdered sugar ideal for a rich hot chocolate or a cappuccino dusting.

Toby’s Estate Keep Cup 8oz

The environmentally friendly take-away cup is reusable, unbreakable and dishwasher safe, with a 4-year life span after which it can be recycled.

Also available for purchase is the book Coffee Trails, in which founder Toby Smith spills the beans on his coffee journey across the globe. The book offers a commentary of his travels companied by wonderful pictures captured by photographer Garrett Robinson. Packing 11 countries into their itinerary and documenting their odyssey to the great growing coffee regions of the world; Coffee Trails details Smith’s personal philosophies on different coffee plantations, the harvesting and processing techniques each country employs and how it impacts the end product that lands in his coffee houses.

As Singaporeans are gaining deeper appreciation for quality coffee, Toby’s Estate is a place where coffee lovers can convene for gourmet coffee. Plus, with the free wi-fi to entice the laptop carrying crowd, you may just be tempted to stay here all day long!

Where can you sip on the best coffee in Singapore? Share with us in the comments!