Best kopi stalls in Singapore 

For many of us, myself included, traditional kopi forms an important aspect of our daily lives. It is also a drink iconic to Singapore, as the coffee you get here is truly local, and not the kind you can find in cafes abroad. We sussed out and ranked these top 15 best kopi stalls in Singapore so you don’t have to—consider this your go-to guide!

The criteria

A good cup of Nanyang-style kopi should be rich, aromatic, and strong, but still well-balanced without being too “gao” or “siap” (astringent). Instead of Arabica beans commonly used in Western-style espresso, Nanyang-style, or Hainan kopi incorporates Robusta coffee beans, which have a more earthy, robust finish.

For each stall, we ordered three or four cups: kopi o, kopi c siew dai, and iced kopi or specialty coffee. 

We rated each place based on four elements of their kopi: taste, strength, ratio, and value.

The coffee should have a discernible fragrance and robust flavour that isn’t too acidic. It should be full-bodied and strong, but not overly so. There should be a good ratio of milk, sugar, and ice, where relevant. A good kopi stall should have consistency across the board in terms of taste. We also rated the value of the drinks based on serving size and price. 

For all you kopi peng lovers, we bore in mind a few components that define a good iced cof...