Walking into Plus Coffee gives me a pure, unadulterated sense of calm. I don’t know whether it’s the soothing, green tones of its interior space, the gentle chatter of customers, or the comforting smell of good quality coffee wafting in the air.
Then I hear it – the grinding of coffee beans. There it is. I’m in a coffee connoisseur’s haven, or a coffee specialists’ abode.
It turns out that Plus Coffee Joint is definitely both.
I sit down with an iced long black and the privilege of the two founders’ time. “We met in Perth”, Jasper starts. He’s sat back comfortably on one of the chairs and low tables, testament to how they’ve created a space truly for leisurely conversations. “We were classmates! And we’d drink six to seven cups of coffee per day, looking to find a cup of joe that was the one.” Both young men have a fond appreciation for coffee culture, though Cheston’s passion fronted operations first. “He started it first – he kept telling me things about different beans, different tastes and smells – he got me really intrigued in coffee”, Jasper adds with a smile. “It’s because of him that I became more interested.”
For the two cafe owners, Plus means giving each customer a worthier cup of joe for their dollar. “We wanna add a ‘plus point’ to people’s coffee. I think we agree that a lot of places overcharge for shit coffee, especially in Singapore. Two issues here; one: it’s expensive, and two, it isn’t well-made. So we want to make sure we add a plus point to your coffee.
“We don’t make the best coffee ever. But we know that there is a certain smell, timing, taste to well-made coffee and we strive to deliver that to every coffee-drinker at our place.”
At this point, I’m taking languid sips from my iced Americano. I’ve never been a fan, but this about converts me, what with the surprising fruity notes – it’s refreshing instead of overtly acidic, and leaves me feeling even more energised than I thought I could get from an iced black. “Actually, our customers themselves get interested in the beans.”
“They get to talk about their beans with us, they get to choose with us – that’s what’s pretty unique about our cafe. Customers get to taste a selection they have never tried before, and buy back beans to bring home and roast themselves.”
“Some customers even keep coming back to ask if there are new rotations”, Jasper says with a smile. Guess a plus-point for these two is the conversations about coffee they get during each transaction.
Though there’s cheery chatter from customers, Jasper also shares that there are some moments where conversations have hit hard. “When we first started, yeah everyone had quite a few comments.” They kept their heads down, did their research, continued to pull in beans and indulge in their initial passion – coffee culture – and braved the criticism. For Jasper, who had left an eight-to-five corporate job, starting Plus Coffee Joint allowed him to be hands-on, and occupy his time with a career he considered more meaningful, though finances are definitely tighter.
His honesty is as refreshing as the interesting blend I’m drinking. Jasper gestures towards the space, where his customers are smiling, laughing, enjoying their cups. “It’s about balance, isn’t it”, he remarks. You give and take. “We made some compromises, but we have this.” From a friendly-looking bar counter to the roaster itself, Jasper and Cheston invested blood, sweat and tears into hand-picking out each machine and chair within their establishment.
“The best part of this journey so far has been when we fight”, Jasper says, twinkle in his eye. “It’s really the best – talking it out, fleshing out ideas. We just want the best for our customers, so everything is thought-out and talked-through.”
Cheston joins us for snatches of conversation amidst their afternoon slam, his girlfriend occasionally manning the till. “Some people like to hustle, and some enjoy a slow-life”, the pair shares. “If you want a boost of energy, come here and grab a cup”, Jasper says, eyes darting towards my nearly-finished glass. “If you want to enjoy, well we have a place for you too.”
“I’d not change anything about this journey. I’d just move on, continue to make good coffee. I chose this life.” The fruitful conversation I’ve had with the two makes me question: or did this life choose them? I’d trust them with anything coffee-related, any day of the week.
Thank God they’re open all seven days. Grab a cup at Plus Coffee Joint from 10am – 5pm daily, at Temple Street.
The Coffee Column is a homegrown, new column where we feature unfiltered conversations with cafe owners and geek out over caffeine-related. Thank you Jasper and Cheston for the conversation!
Carpe Bloom 