Mmm…nothing like a good cup of coffee to start your day.
Trends come and go and like anywhere else, it happens in our beautiful city too. I remember frozen yoghurt being a really big thing among Malaysians, then came along bubble tea and now joining in the trend is none other than coffee.
A rise in the hipster culture has seen a new appreciation for coffee, hence the rise in artisanal coffee joints. Flooding every corner in town — Taman Tun Dr. Ismail and Bangsar are perfect examples.
So why the rise of artisanal coffee? Why the sudden interest in coffee and what happened to enjoying a beverage from Starbucks? What is it that is making independent coffee joints so much more appealing? Well, the quality of course. I’ll be the first to admit when I say that a bad cup of coffee in the morning is all it takes to ruin my day and I’m sure I am not speaking for myself when I say this.
Some ask, is artisanal coffee just another trend that is soon to be forgotten? Looking at the way things have been going and evolving over the past year, it’s highly doubtable that it is. Artisanal coffee is now a trend, but it is a trend with longevity because people are always looking for quality. The personal approach offered by baristas in these independent coffee joints provide customers with a certain kind of comfort. These baristas undergo months of training before they’re allowed to call themselves baristas, before they’re allowed to touch the coffee machine and all the hard work and effort put into making that perfect cup of coffee is seen and appreciated by the customers.
Save to say that the Australians are responsible for bringing the concept of artisan coffee to Malaysia. And with the equal interest in artisan food, and the influence in social networking sites as means to promote such businesses, the coffee movement rose quickly and grew to form a culture of its own amongst Malaysians.
The rise of these independent coffee joints gained vast and fast popularity because it was a change from your usual cup of coffee from chain coffee shops like Starbucks and Coffee Bean. Though artisanal coffee comes with a hefty price tag, caffeine addicts and coffee lovers don’t mind paying because they get their money’s worth. Apart from the quality, independent coffee joints also offer beautiful latte arts with their beverages. The raw feeling independent shops give out with its battered benches and stools with graffiti painted on its walls offer customers a homey feeling.
The rise of independent coffee joints and the appreciation of coffee from locals is bound to make this a norm. Popular coffee joints around the city include Pickle & Fig, The Grumpy Cyclist, Coffea Coffee, Artisan Roast, and CoffeeSociété.
Be sure to share your favourite coffee spots with us!
