The Coffee Academics
The Coffee Academics has been ranked by Buzzfeed as one of the ’25 Coffee shops around the world you have see before you die’. – I’ve blogged about this place before at the Scotts Square outlet, and here is my review of the one at Raffles City.
The recommended dining discount for The Coffee Academics? Enter the Entertainer App by HSBC – with a qualifying HSBC credit card, users can download the Entertainer App by HSBC and enjoy 1-for-1 mains / other discounts.
Raffles City Outlet
The Coffee Academics is located in the basement of Raffles City Shopping Mall.
The Coffee Academics @ Raffles City: seating area
Tempting desserts, all upfront and right in your face
You know it is good when there’s international recognition
Iced Shizouka Matcha Latte
Barista Blend
All Day Brunch
What’s brunch without a Big Breakfast set?
Behold, The Academics Breakfast: a platter serving scrambled eggs topped with chives and sliced truffle, crispy bacon, sourdough with pesto sauce, button mushrooms, pork sausage, grilled tomatoes and baked beans. It comes with halloumi cheese and seasonal greens.
The Academics Breakfast
It is exactly as how the menu described it: sous vide chicken breast is served alongside scrambled egg whites and avocado. Comes with toasted sourdough.
60ºC Sous Vide Chicken Breast with Avocado and Egg White
Smoked salmon slices here come perched atop a homemade potato hash with ikura roe, baby spinach leaves, sour cream, poached egg, radish slices, capers, lemon slice and fresh herbs.
Smoked Salmon and Hash
Spot the large pieces of ikura (salmon roe)
Main Dishes
For the purpose of this blog entry, all other non-breakfasty stuff is generally categorized as a broader Main Dish item.
First up is the Japanese-themed Umami Pasta. Spaghetti tossed in sauteed garlic, onion, sweet shrimp and spicy XO sauce. Topped with shio konbu, katsuobushi flakes (bonito flakes), onsen eggs, ikura roe (salmon eggs) and curry leaves.
This pasta messed with my head a little – the spicy XO sauce and curry leaves were downright obvious and felt ‘local’ – but the Japanese trimmings such as the salmon flakes threw the taste off. Personally, the taste clashed a little too much for my liking, but I know several people who claim to love this dish. So, love it or hate it – this is a true case of – to each his own.
Umami pasta
Slow-cooked beef cheek ragu burger
The cheese is DRIPPING everywhere, rendering this an absolute mess to eat. Enjoyably sinful… but probably not the kind of thing to have for a first date (if you care about making impressions).
So. Much. Cheese.
Very tropical, not too fishy, and an absolute delight.
Crispy Fish Fillet Tacos
Entertainer App Discounts
With the Entertainer App by HSBC’s 1-for-1 mains, the meals ended up costing as such:
(Note: As I dined some time ago, in late 2022, prices will reflect the 7% GST version at the time of payment. From 2023 January onwards, please note that the GST has increased to 8%).
First Visit: The Coffee Academics
- Barista Breakfast – $9.10
- Iced Shizouka Matcha – $7.49
- Smoked Salmon and Hash – $24.50
- Crispy Fish Fillet Tacos – $25.00
Original Total: $66.09
However, with Entertainer app, lower main dish is complimentary using 1-for-1 deal: minus – $24.50
Total after Service charge of 10% ($6.61): $48.20
Second Visit: The Coffee Academics
- The Academics Breakfast – $26.00
- Sous Vide Chicken with Avocado and Egg White – $24.00
- Slow Cooked Beef Ragu Burger – $22.00
- Umami Pasta – $20.00
Original Total: $92.00
However, with Entertainer app, lower main dish is complimentary using 1-for-1 deal: minus – $22.00 AND minus $20.00.
Total after Service charge of 10% ($9.20): $59.20.
(Note: to use TWO 1-for-1 deals, four adults must be present – the idea is that each person will order one main dish).
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