#FlavourTectonics - Recommendation of the week 3

by Flavour Tectonics, an interest group of like minded individuals exploring the world of flavours in all kinds of drinks.

Nestled within the quaint neighbourhood of Alexandra is Rookies Coffeeshop, a new café that is recently making its mark within the coffee community. Helmed by 2019 Singapore Aeropress Champion Junior Lim, Rookies specialises in their signature Aeropress filter coffee as well as espresso based drinks topped with the occasional quirky flavours like the Bandung Espresso.

Prior to going to Rookies, I was constantly being bombarded by my friends about having to make a trip down or I will regret it for the rest of my life. This got me curious and I finally decided to make my way down on a Saturday afternoon.

Stepping into Rookies, there was a pleasant, nice neighbourhood charm. The space was flanked by a large bar installed with 4-5 seats, with several other foldable chairs lining the side of the space, ready to be set up outside of the café. It is a largely informal setting, reminiscent of (you guess it) a coffeeshop.

I had an espresso that was sourced from Little Big Coffee Roasters which was rather easy to go down. It was medium bodied with tasting notes of orange. I also had the San Antonio from Nicaragua and oh boy was it the star of the show. It was the cleanest cup of Aeropress filter coffee I ever had with tasting notes of apple and dried fruit. The coffee I had in my cup felt like a kueh lapis, with every sip revealing more layers of complexity that made the whole drinking experience largely enjoyable and exciting. That was the fastest cup of coffee I have ever downed in my entire life.

Aeropress is an extremely rare sight in most speciality coffee cafes within Singapore as more people are used to the V60 or similar brewers. Junior has skilfully honed his craft with the aeropress, coming up with a winning recipe that brews a clean tasting cup of coffee which is usually rare with an aeropress due to the pressure and control.

For the more adventurous, do have a go at the Bandung Espresso, a signature item that most people have travelled far and wide for. It is like a traditional Bandung drink with a shot of espresso, which strangely (pleasantly) complements each other, creating a nice balance within the cup.

Aeropress Workshop

I had the pleasure of hosting Junior and Atie at my residential college where he conducted an Aeropress workshop, sharing tips and secrets on how they achieve a consistent brew at Rookies. Without divulging the secret (in case we get sued), the recipe was a testament of the experimentation and experience they have when it comes to working with the aeropress to brew a consistent cup that is clean tasting. If you would like to find out more, holler at us (@flavour_tectonics) and perhaps we might introduce aeropress to our line up.

Good Vibes only

Rookies Coffeeshop is more than just the coffee or the ambience. It is also the people and the team behind the counter. The passion that Junior has is revealed through the interactions he has with his customers makes you feel like you have walked into a place where you can sit back and have a conversation with anyone about anything under the sun.

If you are looking for great coffee and great vibes, look no further. Go check out Rookies Coffee Shop today. You will thank me for it later.

Address: 124 Bukit Merah Lane 1 #01-144, Singapore 150124

Hours: 10am – 5pm (Tues-Fri), 10am – 6pm (Weekends)