Common Man Coffee Roasters or CMCR is a local's favourite and one of the best places to go for a quick break during the day in Singapore. Winning the prestigious Readers’ Choice Best Café by SG Magazine in 2014 and 2015, CMCR has built a strong and loyal fan base amongst city-goers.
Located in the upmarket and trendy Robertson Quay area, Common Man Coffee Roasters is a restaurant and cafe. At first, you will notice the chic wooden art pieces and hand-crafted furniture which sets a relaxing yet modern atmosphere.
I would recommend visiting on weekdays during lunch or the late afternoon as it isn’t too crowded during this time. Therefore, making it the perfect location for a long lunch or coffee break.
Their menu consists of all-day breakfast options, healthy salads and gourmet burgers. Meanwhile, one of their popular menu options is the brioche French toast. I went for the French toast, a salad and their barista coffee.
Brioche French Toast
The brioche French toast comes with two thick slices of French toasts, a delicious compote made from fresh berries, maple syrup and vanilla ice cream on the top. Coming in a satisfyingly large portion, the brioche French toast is very filling. There are a few things which are worth mentioning about this dish.
Firstly, the toasts are cooked to the perfect level. They are crispy on the outside yet soft and fluffy on the inside. Clearly, the toasts have been well soaked in their mixture and brings out an appetising egg taste when you bite into it.
The berry compote was quite sour by itself but strike a good balance with the mildly sweet vanilla ice cream. Personally, I would have preferred it to be a little sweeter or replaced with another compote. Perhaps, strawberry or blueberry might've also worked well?
Croissant Croque Monsieur
For those who don't know, a croissant croque monsieur is a baked or fried ham and cheese sandwich that originates from France. It is usually served as a quick snack in cafes.
This dish at Common Man Coffee Roasters comes with a large serving of fresh rocket salad and a generous amount of melted provolone cheese that oozed out from the sandwich.
As you would expect from a good sandwich, the croissant was flaky and had a good crunch while the melted cheese and savoury ham slices complimented each other well. The creamy bechamel sauce was also a nice addition to the classic French dish.
Coffee at Common Man Coffee Roasters
All aspects of the coffee at Common Man Coffee Roasters are handcrafted. Not surprising, when the specialty restaurant and cafe roasts their own coffee, wholesales and has barista academies operating throughout Asia.
In general, I would recommend it to all coffee lovers. Especially, as it is rare to find a good coffee spot where the coffee isn't burned or overly frothy in Singapore.
I tried their iced black coffee on my visit whilst my friend ordered a cup of cappuccino. Shortly after it arrived on the table, there was a faint scent of the roasted bean. Conveniently, the iced black coffee came with sugar syrup and a small pot of milk upon request. The cappuccino looked amazing with its beautiful latte art that I spent a while marvelling at.
Overall, my experience in the Common Man Coffee Roasters was good. An ambient space with nice service from the staff. Not to mention the Instagram-worthy dishes and fragrant coffee together were also impressive. However, at its price point, I would say this is not a budget-friendly spot.
With branches across Singapore and parts of Kuala Lumpur, make sure you give it a try when you're out and about.
Looking for more artisan coffee spots? Check out Cafe Nupuri in Niseko.