(Food Tasting): Desserts and Coffee at Forty Hands

Tiong Bahru is quickly becoming known as one of the trendiest neighbourhoods in Singapore, and one of the reasons is the presence of cafes like Forty Hands. This Melbourne-inspired cafe has an artsy atmosphere, fantastic fair-trade coffee and makes one of the best breakfasts in Singapore.

The cafe’s name comes from the fact that, on average, twenty people (and therefore forty hands) are involved in production of coffee from field to cup. The coffee served at Forty Hands is fair-trade and prepared by expert baristas, resulting in happy coffee workers and happy coffee drinkers. 

At S$3.50 for a single espresso to S$5 for a latte, Forty Hand’s prices are lower than chains like Starbucks for a far better quality product. Their house blend is always available and is well balanced, but coffee connoisseurs should enquire about the seasonal single-origin coffees that are available until they inevitably sell out.

If you just want something to nibble on, the baked goods are on display near the cash register – a selection of tarts, cookies and even Asian red bean buns. In line with Forty Hands laid-back vibe, the restaurant is partly self-service – place your order at the counter, pay and the staff will bring it to your table when it’s ready. This also means that the usual 10% service charge is not automatically added to the bill so the prices on the menu are what you pay.

Everything we ordered tasted great!  I really want to thank Forty Hands for having us over!

Forty Hands is rightfully popular, especially having recently been named “Best Coffee Joint 2012” by I-S Magazine. That said the coffee alone makes it worth the wait to snag a table in this cosy shophouse cafe.

Forty Hands Cafe
#01-12, Blk 78 Yong Siak Street, Singapore
Nearest MRT: Tiong Bahru
T: 6225 8545
Open 08:00–19:00 Tuesday to Thursday, 08:00–22:00 Friday and Saturday, 08:00–19:00 Sunday, closed Monday