Coffee-making nowadays is a craft in itself. Coffee beans are carefully sourced for the highest quality and then meticulously roasted to achieve the ideal flavour. This careful procedure is usually carried out by artisanal coffee house entrepreneurs, who are passionate about coffee and are compelled to share their passion with the world. In recent years, KLites have happily embraced this new coffee movement. Many can be found patronizing the many artisanal and independent coffee houses that have sprouted in and around the city. So, the next time you find yourself in need of a good cup of Joe, head to either one of the places mentioned below.
1. Artisan Roast
Photo credit: Artisan Roast, Facebook
The beans at Artisan Roast are carefully roasted by the workers themselves. The coffee served here is of such high quality that people keep coming back for more.
The best-sellers here are flat whites and long blacks, which are priced from RM10 and RM5 respectively. Another thing that this neighbourhood coffee joint is famous for, is its delicious no-bake cheese cakes which are reasonably priced at RM10.
The coffee joint opened its very first outlet at Taman Tun Dr. Ismail (TTDI) and is mostly patronized by the younger crowd. Serving reasonably priced food with no service charge, Artisan Roast is a great place to hang out with friends and family if you are looking for high quality coffee at an affordable price.
Address: 4 Lorong Rahim Kajai 14, Taman TunDr Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur, Selangor (TTDI outlet)
Contact: 03-77336397
Check out their Facebook page here.
Read a review on Artisan Roast here.
*In a previous version of this article, there was some incorrect information published about Artisan Roast. We would like to clarify that Artisan Roast actually roasts their own coffee beans. Also, please note that Artisan Roast is a halal outlet.*
2. Espressolab
Photo credit: espressolab, Facebook
“Acidity, aroma, body, flavour (nutty, fruity, floral or woody) and after-taste.” These are the five main characteristics that embody a good cup of coffee according to the founder of Espressolab, Leong Hoo Yin. Espressolab is dedicated in serving good coffee, including customized ones, and sharing coffee knowledge with customers.
The coffee house obtains their coffee beans from different countries around the world, but they roast the beans in-house. Drinks that are popular with the crowd here include the iced coffee, which starts from RM12, and the affagato (RM 14), which comes with an alluring scoop of vanilla ice-cream. Unlike other coffee houses that have their own fixed menu with listings of the type of drinks served such as “cappuccino”, “latte”, etc., this coffee house has chosen a different way of serving its customers. Just pick your cup size and how many ounces of milk you would prefer in your coffee, and your choice of drink is all set. Weird, but definitely worth a try!
Espressolab has several outlets around KL. Its original outlet located at Publika only serves a limited variety of light snacks, but customers are actually allowed to bring in their own food. Since 2012, the coffee house further expanded by opening new outlets in shopping malls such as The Gardens and The Curve. Designed to accommodate fully-fledged cafes, the new outlets also serve heavier snacks such as pastries and cakes.
Address: Pavilion Mall
Contact: 03-6211 0662
Check out their Facebook page here.
Read a review on Espresso Lab here.
3. Acme Bar & Coffee
Photo credit: Acme Bar & Coffee, Facebook
Acme Bar and Coffee has taken café standards to new heights. Acme Bar is well known for serving good coffee with a wide selection of restaurant-worthy dishes.
The café’s cappuccino is highly recommended along with their salted beef eggs Benedict and jackfruit cake. Another noteworthy dish is the café’s Scallop Aglio Olio Pasta. The bar also serves pastas, salads and wines.
The café’s quiet environment is ideal for a romantic night out with a loved one. The cafe is appropriately located in the Kuala Lumpur City Centre (KLCC) area, one of KL’s most prestigious locations.
Address: Unit 1 The Troika, 19 Persiaran KLCC, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Contact: 03-2162 2288
Check out the Facebook page here.
Read a review on Acme Bar and Coffee here.
4. Real and Wholesome (RAW)Coffee
Photo credit: Real and Wholesome Coffee, Facebook
True to its name, Real and Wholesome Coffee (RAW), specializes in serving food and beverage from the freshest ingredients. The people running the business make it a point to follow the harvest closely, so that their coffee beans are obtained fresh.
Famous among the regular patrons are the flat whites which sell at RM10 per cup. However, the coffee house’s affagato (RM12), an espresso shot served with ice-cream, is also highly recommended. The cafe also serves a wide selection of vegan food.
Like Acme Bar and Coffee, RAW is also located in the KLCC area. Coffee beans are carefully hand roasted to produce the best flavours. It is said that you do not need to add any sugar into the latte or cappuccino served here, because the carefully sourced coffee beans used, produces enough natural sweetness for your drinking pleasure.
Address: Wisma Equity, 150 JalanAmpang, 50450 Kuala Lumpur
Contact: 019-31389785.
Check out the Facebook page here.
5. Coffee Societe
Photo credit: CoffeeSociete, Facebook
CoffeeSociété was founded by Kah Wai, a young, Chinese entrepreneur, who was inspired by the Melbourne coffee culture, and co-founded by Kar Heng. After furthering his studies there, he came back to Kuala Lumpur with a new-found determination to redefine the coffee scene in Malaysia. With that, he set up CoffeeSociété, a casual, retro-styled coffee house. The café was set up in Publika, a place that supports innovative entrepreneurs.
The coffee served here is produced from 100% Arabica beans, which are imported directly from South and Central America. Apart from serving world-class coffee, the café also serves delicious cakes. Their red velvet and carrot walnut cake are highly recommended. Another worthy highlight is their set lunches, which comes with a pre-selected main course and a cup of coffee.
With an elegant and comfortable wooded interior, CoffeeSociété offers an ideal environment to relax during your coffee breaks, or after a tiresome workday. The Cafe is located on the Ground Floor of Publika Mall.
Address: Publika, Solaris Dutamas, Block D4, Level G3, Unit 3A, Jalan Dutamas 1, Solaris Dutamas, 50480 Kuala Lumpur
Contact: 03-62115523
Check out the Facebook page here.
Read a review on Coffee Societe here.
6. Mollydooker’s Coffee Bar
Photo credit: Mollydooker’s Coffee Bar, Facebook
“Great things come in small packages.” This saying is indeed true when it comes to Mollydooker’s Coffee Bar. Occupying just a small space in a corporate building, it is one of the best coffee places in the Bukit Damansara area.
Like many artisanal coffee joints, Mollydooker’s also imports coffee beans from different parts of the world, but the beans predominantly come from Brazil and Columbia. The types of drinks served here include the usual espresso, long black, cappuccino and flat white. In addition to that, beverages such as Rusyan Tea and Chai Latte can also be found on the menu. The café also serves pastries, cookies and other tempting desserts like the Sweet Montage, a type of fusion pudding. It is located just beside Chef and Brew in Bukit Damansara.
Address: G1.08, 1, Jalan Medan Setia 1, Plaza Damansara, 50490 Damansara, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Check out the Facebook page here.
7. Coffee Stain by Joseph
Photo credit: Coffee Stain by Joseph, Facebook
Coffee Stain was set up to show KLites what quality coffee is all about. The coffee served here is a blend of beans from Papua New Guinea, Columbia and Guatemala. It is brewed to perfection by the café’s award-winning baristas, using a variety of methods such as siphon, dripping and French press. It is interesting to watch the baristas as they employ these methods to produce the perfect cup of java.
Apart from espressos, lattes and cappuccinos, the café also offers highly priced – but quality guaranteed – single origin coffee selection. These include the Geisha from Panama (RM60), the Blue Mountain from Jamaica (RM39) and the Santa Terese from El Salvador (RM15). You can also try some of the unique creations of the café’s highly-skilled baristas. These include a chilled beverage named Cool Cube, which is served in the form of latte ice cubes with a serving of steamed milk on the side. Just pour the milk over the latte ice cubes and you get to enjoy a unique latte experience.
Coffee Stain is currently located at two trendy locations: Publika Mall and Parkamaya, Fahrenheitt 88.
Address: D4-G3-01, Solaris Dutamas,50480 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Contact: 03-62112022
Check out the Facebook page here.
8. Coffea Coffee by Timothy
Photo credit: Coffea Coffee, Facebook
Coffea Coffee is a Korean-based franchise set up by a professional Korean barista by the name of Timothy. Timothy proudly represented his country twice for the World Barista Championship. So, having a cup of coffee here is truly worth it, as they are specially handcrafted by professional hands. The coffee house’s signature drinks are called “maestro” and “Madonna”, and both are house blended coffees. Maestro is a strong American-style coffee, while Madonna has a more European flavour to it coupled with a pleasant fruity aroma. For those who are not such a fan of coffee, other types of beverages are also available, such as smoothies and peanut butter latte.
Coffea Coffee opened its first Malaysian outlet in Bangsar at the end of 2012. Since then, it has expanded to include outlets in Subang Jaya, Sunway Pyramid and The Curve.
Address:8 Jalan Telawi 2, BangsarBaru, KL
Contact:03 2201 3338
Check out the Facebook page here.
9. Top Brew Coffee Bar
Photo credit: Top Brew Coffee Bar, Facebook
Top Brew Coffee Bar was founded by the winner of the 2012 Malaysia Barista Championship, JH Yee. He also happens to be one of the pioneers in Malaysia to venture into coffee art.
The bar obtains its beans locally from Lighthouse, a Penang roaster. In fact, one of its signature blends is named after the Penang roaster. Top Brew also has a second signature blend from Australia. Apart from the excellent macchiato, lattes and cappuccinos, you can also order sweet desserts, such as peanut butter cookies, chocolate chip muffins and pineapple tarts, to complement your drinks. Also, make sure you try Top Brew’s wonderfully-executed, homemade waffles, which are served in big, fluffy portions, with a side of blueberry sauce.
The interior of the café is spacious and comfortable making it a good place to relax with a cup of coffee. The bar is located within a commercial row opposite the Hartamas Shoppping Centre and is easily accessible through the overhead pass from the mall.
Address: C-0-7, Plaza Damas 3, Jalan Sri Hartamas 1, 50480 Kuala Lumpur
Contact: 03-62063062
Check out the Facebook page here.
10. Antipodean Café
Photo credit: Antipodean Cafe, Facebook
The Antipodean Café in Bangsar was opened by a New Zealand expat who found his way to Malaysia after living in Indonesia for over 10 years. Upon setting foot on Malaysian soil, he opened Antipodean Café as he felt committed to propagate the coffee culture from his homeland.
The coffee here is assured to be of high quality as the coffee beans are obtained from small-scale growers in Indonesia. The beans are roasted in-house by top, Indonesian specialty roaster, Merdeka Coffee. Apart from offering an exceptional and authentic Australian/ New Zealand coffee experience, this place is also famous for its breakfast and brunches, served all day long. A highly recommended breakfast set is the Big Breakfast, which is a hearty meal of toast, a choice of bacon or sausages, mushrooms, hash brown and scrambled eggs. Priced at just RM18, this dish can easily feed two, if you’re not a big-eater.
The café is very popular among expats and is crowded almost every morning. Although it is quite cramped, the interior is reasonably cosy and family-friendly. Definitely the perfect place to hang out if you are a fan of authentic Western cuisine and, of course, good coffee!
Address: 20 JalanTelawi 2, BangsarBaru, 59100 Kuala Lumpur
Contact: 03-2282 0411
Check out the Facebook page here.
Did we miss out on any good coffee places in KL? Do let us know by commenting below.
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