Every pursuit has its inner circle: couture in fashion, bespoke in tailoring, haute cuisine in gastronomy; you get the drift. Coffee is no different: craft, provenance, and obsession converge in specialty coffee. Enjoying specialty coffee on the fringes is one thing, but fully immersing in it is a totally different experience. One wrong answer at the cafe counter can result in the bluntest of side-eyes or -95 karma on Reddit’s /pourover or /espresso. While these are not representative of the entire scene, as a recent global push towards a hospitality-led environment is trimming the barbs of the specialty coffee circle, the adage “once bitten twice shy” still rings true. Other factors such as higher pricing and “unfamiliar” flavour profiles are contributing factors to specialty coffee’s perceived image as intimidating, highbrow, or snobbish.
Another Coffee Festival, founded by Leon Foo of MORNING and Will Leow of Alchemist, was intended, among its many other aims, to welcome curious onlookers from all walks of life and to benefit Singapore’s coffee scene at large. “Accessibility was a core design principle,” Leow shares when asked about tailoring their approach for the general public. “We want to show that specialty coffee is not about exclusivity; it’s about curiosity, craftsmanship, and people. We hope visitors leave feeling more confident about exploring cafés and discovering what they enjoy.”
The festival, which runs from 3 – 6 September, unites 34 specialty coffee roasters at Guoco Tower Urban Park, 15 of whom are from abroad, to celebrate coffee culture, creativity and community through conversations, craft, live art, and shared tastings. The inaugural edition will feature internationally acclaimed roasters such as Fuglen (Norway), Aery (South Korea), Coffee County (Japan), Terraform (China), Common Grounds (Indonesia), One Half Coffee (Malaysia), and Yardstick Coffee (Philippines), alongside leading local roasters including Apartment, Maxi Coffee Bar, Nylon Coffee, PPP Coffee, Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee, and Homeground Coffee Roasters. Part of the festival’s differentiation is the tasting token mechanics. Visitors can purchase tasting tokens, which can be exchanged for coffee throughout the roaster lineup. A limited-edition Festival Cup, sized perfectly for the tasting menu, is also available for purchase. Do keep an eye out for a special line-up of merchandises available on-site as well as other interesting offerings from the coffee roasters themselves.
Of the 34 names, Foo recommends experiencing Narrative Coffee (Singapore) and Brewing Ceremony (South Korea) at the festival. “I admire Narrative Coffee’s thoughtful approach to roasting and their constant exploration of new producers and processing methods, while Brewing Ceremony is known for an incredibly refined and elegant style of roasting. This will be one of the rare opportunities to experience their coffees in Singapore,” Foo shares.
As part of the lead-up to Another Coffee Festival, we had a chat with Leon and Will about all things coffee-related.
You asked participating roasters about their coffee hot takes; what are yours?
Leon: I don’t think lighter roasts are automatically better, and darker roasts aren’t automatically bad. Great coffee isn’t about chasing trends; it’s about whether the roast suits the coffee and whether it tastes good. Sometimes the industry gets too caught up in what’s “correct” instead of what’s enjoyable.
What’s your usual coffee order?
Will: It depends on the time of day. In the morning, I usually have a black coffee – either an espresso or a long black. Later in the day, I might have a hand-brewed filter coffee if I’m catching up with someone. If I’m travelling, I almost always order a long black first. It’s the quickest way to understand a café’s coffee.
How would you assess the levels of sophistication and maturity of Singapore’s specialty coffee scene?
Leon: Singapore’s specialty coffee scene has matured tremendously over the past decade. Consumers are now more knowledgeable, adventurous, and open to exploring different coffees and flavour profiles. At the same time, local cafés and roasters are producing coffee at an internationally competitive standard. As more Singaporeans travel and experience coffee cultures overseas, they return with broader reference points and higher expectations, which continues to raise the bar at home.
(From left to right) Leon Foo of MORNING and Will Leow of Alchemist
How did the idea of Another Coffee Festival come around then? Was it a moment of spontaneity, or has it been brewing in your minds for a while already?
Will: It was definitely not spontaneous. The idea had been brewing for several years through conversations with friends across the coffee industry and visits to festivals overseas. We realised Singapore already had the talent, knowledge and community, but there was room for a platform that belonged to the wider industry. We wanted to create something built by the community and for the community, rather than an event centred on any one company.
Apart from Singapore’s specialty coffee drinking community, what’s in it, and how do you plan your approach for the general public who might have certain preconceived notions about specialty coffee?
Leon: Accessibility was a core design principle. The tasting cup and token system allows visitors to sample a wide range of coffees without committing to full cups, making it easier to discover different brewing styles and flavour profiles at their own pace. They can also meet founders and baristas directly and learn from the people behind each cup. We want to show that specialty coffee is not about exclusivity; it is about curiosity, craftsmanship and people. We hope visitors leave feeling more confident about exploring cafés and discovering what they enjoy.
Another Coffee Festival features a mix of 19 local and 15 international roasters. What was your curation process like when selecting the international brands, and what unique perspectives do you think they will bring to Singapore’s coffee scene?
Leon: We wanted the lineup to reflect both the strength of Singapore’s coffee community and the diversity of the international scene. We looked beyond popularity and selected roasters with distinctive philosophies, roasting styles and coffee cultures, while seeking variety across countries, brewing approaches and business models. The overseas roasters bring new ideas and perspectives, while the local lineup demonstrates how far Singapore’s scene has come. Together, they create space for discovery and exchange.
Images courtesy of Another Coffee
Will, you mentioned that “the ambition is for the festival to become an annual fixture that brings the world’s coffee community to Singapore while continuing to champion local talent.” How will you measure the success of this edition that tells you you’re on the right track to achieving that goal?
Will: Attendance is only one measure of success. More importantly, we want to see conversations turn into collaborations, local roasters build lasting relationships with overseas brands, and visitors discover cafés they have not experienced before. It would also be encouraging to see exhibitors wanting to return and the wider coffee community feeling a genuine sense of ownership over the festival. Success, in the long term, means establishing Singapore as a meeting point for specialty coffee in Asia.
Leon, you shared that the festival’s goal is to serve the community that helped build Singapore’s coffee culture. How do you see this event benefiting everyday coffee drinkers compared to industry professionals?
Leon: The festival offers consumers unprecedented access to a wide range of quality roasters in one place. They can taste coffees side by side, learn directly from the people who make them, and explore without the intimidation that surrounds specialty coffee at times. We hope that discovery continues after the festival, and that visitors are encouraged to support local cafés to deepen their appreciation of coffee. Ultimately, stronger coffee businesses and a more connected ecosystem create better experiences for consumers.
We deliberately designed the festival for both everyday coffee drinkers and industry professionals. For consumers, it’s a rare opportunity to experience 34 roasters from Singapore and around the world in one place. The tasting cup and token system allows them to sample different coffees, brewing methods and flavour profiles at their own pace. Meeting the founders, roasters and baristas also makes the experience more approachable and personal. For industry professionals, the festival creates opportunities to exchange ideas, build relationships, and learn from peers across different markets. We don’t see these as separate audiences: some of the most meaningful conversations happen when professionals and consumers share the same space, and that’s how stronger communities are built.
Images courtesy of Another Coffee
Tell me about Another Coffee Initiative (ACI), which, to me, is the backbone and foundation of Another Coffee Festival. What kind of educational programmes or partnerships are in the works after the festival wraps up?
Will: The festival is only the first chapter of ACI. Our longer-term vision is to build a year-round platform through educational programmes, workshops, international collaborations, and community pop-ups. We also want to develop partnerships between Singapore and overseas coffee communities, creating more opportunities for learning, exchange, and connection. The aim is to continue strengthening Singapore’s coffee ecosystem long after the festival weekend.
ACI is committed to supporting Singapore’s coffee ecosystem from now through 2028. Is this a fair amount of time to advocate changes and improvements across the various stakeholders, from supply chain members to business owners and consumers?
Will: Three years gives us a meaningful foundation, because community-building and industry development don’t happen overnight. It provides enough runway to learn from each initiative, refine our approach, and build momentum with stakeholders across the ecosystem. We hope that ACI continues well beyond the initial commitment, but its success will depend on the wider community embracing it and contributing to its growth. We want to build something sustainable rather than a one-off initiative.
To close the interview, recommend local (no self-nominations!) and one international roaster people should experience at Another Coffee Festival.
Leon: Locally, I’d recommend Narrative Coffee. I really admire their thoughtful approach to roasting and their constant exploration of new producers and processing methods. They’re always pushing themselves while staying true to making coffee approachable.
Internationally, I’d recommend the Brewing Ceremony from South Korea. They’re known for an incredibly refined and elegant roasting style, and this will be one of the rare opportunities to experience their coffees in Singapore. I think visitors will appreciate how beautifully they express clarity, balance and sweetness in the cup.
Head over to Another Coffee Festival’s homepage for more information or their Instagram page for latest updates. Once you are done with this story, click here to catch up with our August 2026 issue.