The buzz: If you’ve been paying any attention at all, you would’ve noticed that our local brew scene is really picking up. Case in point: This recent third wave coffee addition that’s a godsend to suits in the CBD, located just across from SGX Centre.

The vibe: Adrian Khong’s the man behind this spot, and he’s drawn inspiration from his travels in San Francisco, Portland and New York in designing it. While it’s not a big space by any means, the minimal set-up is bright and airy. Plus, it works well with the concept, keeping the focus firmly on the coffee.

The food: At the moment, it’s a pretty streamlined café menu with salads, pastas and sandwiches. Being the carnivores that we are, we quite fancy the gratifying Ribeye Hero sandwich ($11.90) and decidedly spicy Kurobuta pork sausage linguine ($12). There’s also a range of baked goods for the sweet-toothed, such as banana walnut muffins ($2.90) and pain au chocolat ($4).

The drinks: We’re only going to say this once. Every espresso-based cup of joe is a double shot, so you get a no-nonsense caffeine buzz for your buck. All the beans used here are single origin (not a house blend in sight); we thoroughly enjoyed our Gibraltar ($5.50). For now, Khong’s got beans from Fazenda Samambaia, Brazil and Lintong, Sumatra, but he plans to switch things up every so often. For those who have the time and the inclination, we suggest trying a Chemex ($5.60). It’s a brewed cuppa, similar to the V60, but has a cleaner-tasting result.

Why you’ll be back: If you’re one of the corporate slaves working in the area, it’s a relaxed spot to grab lunch and your caffeine fix (they really pack a punch). As always, you can thank us after.

For the coolest places to get a hot cup of coffee, check out the best spots for specialty coffee in Singapore