Tag: Starbucks

‘Costa’ La Vista – Costa Coffee Is Closing Its Last 2 Outlets In S’pore By 16 Sep

If you haven’t already noticed, British coffee chain Costa Coffee has closed six outlets in Singapore over the last three and half months, with their two remaining branches at Holland Village and VivoCity Mall bowing out in the next two weeks.

Costa Coffee entered Singapore in 2012, riding on the wave of generic coffee brands that offered a quick cuppa to the masses who are looking for convenience.

The Final Pour

Hit by hefty rents and labour costs, Costa Coffee’s failure to survive in Singapore is also partly due to the growing popularity of indie cafes and their focus on solid brews.

Over the past 6 years, we’ve seen a rise in popular indie cafes such as Dutch Colony Coffee Co. and Common Man Coffee Roasters who are known for serving up java that are roasted in-house or sourced from roasters around the world. This gives them a slight edge in serving quality coffee at the same prices or even cheaper than the offerings from bigger chains.

Indie coffee shops continue to spring up in Singapore while big-name coffee shop chains are opening up more and more stores to mark their turf.

They’ve done a great job by starting to educate the market on how to appreciate better quality coffee.  But whether coffee shops can survive will depend on rental rates.

Or perhaps Costa Coffee was good yet not good enough to make up for their lack of character. They weren’t distinctive enough to beat fellow big brands like Starbucks or The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. I mean, honestly, when have we ever craved a drink from Costa?

Fret not, if you love Costa Coffee, no other stores in Southeast Asia are affected by the move, though the company did not say why the chain was puling out of Singapore. This also means, the next nearest Costa Coffee outlet for you would be JB.

Whatever the case, if you love Costa Coffee, you might want to head down to their two remaining outlets at Holland Village and VivoCity Mall soon for your coffee fix.

Costa Coffee Holland Village 
Address: 269 Holland Ave, Singapore 278990
Opening Hours: Sun – Thurs: 7am – 9pm, Fri – Sat: 7am – 10pm

Costa Coffee VivoCity Mall
Address: 1 Harbourfront Walk, #01-100 VivoCity, 098585
Opening Hours: 9am – 10pm, Daily

Also Read This 7-Eleven At Boat Quay Doubles Up As A Bar – Serves Beer On Tap For $4.70

(Header Image Source: The Chosen Glutton)

Starbucks Is Ditching The Straw And Bringing Back Sippy Cups To Save The Environment

In recent months, many fast food chains have been taking the surprising initiative to remove plastic from their establishments.

Who would’ve thought that FAST FOOD restaurants would be the ones to lead the charge in the fight against global warming and pollution?

If you haven’t seen, Deliveroo has pledged to do its part to cut down the use of plastic with the introduction of an “opt-in function” for cutlery on World Environment Day (5 June).

That’s not all, KFC has also stopped serving beverages with plastic caps and straws since 20 June 2018.

Now, the world’s most iconic coffee brand, Starbucks, has decided to join in the fight, and remove plastic straws from their drinks.

The Last Straw

While this initiative is currently in full effect in Seattle, their homeground, it has not been implemented in Singapore yet.

But this is better than nothing I suppose. People were initially confused as to how they were going to drink from their cups without straws, which led to a small burst of memes mocking these complainers.

It’s a cup. Drink as per normal. Duh.

For your Starbucks drinks that come with a copious amount of whipped cream (frappucinos), don’t worry, straws will still be provided. These straws will be made with compostable plastic or paper.

While we wait for this new ‘sippy cup’ lid to come to Singapore, if you’re the type who desperately requires straws, consider getting your very own metal straw.

Honestly, the Earth potentially dying is more important than you getting foam on your upper lip. Please, do your part to save the environment.

Also read This German Restaurant In Joo Chiat Has Been Serving Handmade Breads And Wursts Since 1988

(Header Image Source: CNN Money)

Pumpkin Spice Lattes Are Finally Arriving In Singapore, So We Can All Become Basic AF

If you spend more hours than you care to admit online, watching YouTube videos of beauty and style gurus, you’ll probably have noticed that one thing always happens once fall rolls around – everyone starts talking about Pumpkin Spice Lattes.

A drink that makes a regular appearance on the Starbucks menu around this time of the year in various parts of world, the drink has never been released in Singapore – that is, until now.

Yesterday, Starbucks teased its arrival with this Facebook post:

With a caption reading “One week before I finally land in Singapore. The name’s _um_kin S_ice L_tt_.“, it’s basically a dead giveaway.

A blend of Starbuck’s signature espresso and milk, with flavor notes of pumpkin, cinnamon, nutmeg and clove, the drink comes toppped with whipped cream and real pumpkin pie slices.

If the hashtag on the post is any indication, the Pumpkin Spice Latte will be dropping on 6 September. We don’t know about you, but we’re excited to finally find out what it is about these drinks that has everyone raving about them!

Also read Singaporeans, Here’s What Your Go-To Hawker Food Says About You

(Header Image Source: NBC News)

The New Starbucks X Paul & Joe Merch Is Beyond Cute, And Will Get You In The Mood For Spring!

Spring is here, and to kick off the season of neverending florals and bright, vibrant colours, Starbucks will be releasing its brand new merchandise collection by Paul & Joe + Starbucks.

The French fashion, house known for its pastel hues and ultra-feminine motifs has come together with Starbucks to release a–we have to admit–GORGEOUS collection. Only available in Asia, the collection features Paul & Joe’s iconic cat designs (of course), delicate florals and light hues.

Paul & Joe + Starbucks Merch Collection 

Fans of the Paul & Joe brand can pick up tumblers, mugs and tote bags priced between $19.90 to $49.90 at Starbucks outlets across the island from 21 March onwards! Us? We’ll have one of each please!

Also, read Get Ready, FENTY X PUMA SS2017 Drops In Singapore 9 March!

The Best Study Spots All Students Should Know About

One of the many things most Singaporean students can agree on is that we can never study where we are supposed to study. Classrooms are great learning places but they’re just not so great mugging spots. While there are some lucky students who can focus in the comfort of their own bedrooms, most students find that the bedroom is the worst place to study. Mainly because there is usually a bed in the bedroom and where there’s a bed, there’s sleep… and sleep and study do not really go well together (tried and tested).

We all know the must-haves to a good study spot, mainly; air-con, Wi-Fi, and power plugs. So, to help all the muggers out there, here’s a list of places with the essentials for a good mugging session:

Libraries

Libraries are one of the best places to go to if you’re mugging. There’re more than enough power plugs and tables to go around, the noise levels are kept to a minimum and the environment is generally clean and cosy. All libraries are air-conditioned and most of them have food places just around the corner, so you can grab a quick bite when you get distracted hungry. Below are the top 3 libraries that we think are awesome study spots:

Library @ Esplanade

The library @ esplanade is one of the quietest libraries in Singapore. The Esplanade, being a hub for performing arts and theatre, is frequented by very few people on weekdays, thus making the library a very peaceful place to study in. You won’t have to worry about being swarmed by large groups of school kids talking at the top of their voices, or toddlers running rampant among the bookshelves. A quiet atmosphere, coupled with great views, make the Library @ Esplanade the number one library to study at.

Library @ Esplanade
Address: 8 Raffles Avenue #03-01, Esplanade, Singapore 039802
Opening Hours: 11am – 9pm, daily
Wifi: Yes
Power Plugs: Yes
Aircon: Yes

Library @ Orchard

Being one of the newest libraries in Singapore, the facilities at Library @ Orchard are relatively new. Besides the cool architecture and new books, the library also has many seats available for reading and studying. Located near Somerset MRT station, Library @ Orchard is very accessible and is surrounded by many retail stores, perfect for a little shopping therapy to (escape reality) relieve the stress from studying.

Library @ Orchard
Address: 277 Orchard Road #03-12/#04-11 Orchard Gateway, Singapore 238858
Opening Hours: 11am – 9pm, daily
Wifi: Yes
Power Plugs: Yes
Aircon: Yes

National Library

The National Library is the largest library in Singapore. It houses both the Central Public Library and the Lee Kong Chian Reference Library. In this 16 storey building, you never need to worry about not being able to find a seat. The noise level in this library depends on the section and floor of the library. Avoid the children’s section if you’re looking for a quieter spot to study at. Other than that, the National Library makes a pretty decent study spot for students.

National Library
Address: 100 Victoria Street, Singapore 188064
Opening Hours: 10am – 9pm, daily
Wifi: Yes
Power Plugs: Yes
Aircon: Yes

Starbucks

Ahhh… Starbucks… One of the most well-known study and hangout spots in Singapore, other than McDonald’s. Comfy seats, power plugs, air-con and Wi-Fi, all the things needed for a productive study session. Not to mention, being able to sip on your favourite Starbucks drink while revising, makes the chore of studying just a little more bearable. Listed below are some Starbucks outlets that are open 24/7, for the hardcore students who study better at night.

Starbucks (United Square)
Address: 101 Thompson Road, #01-01 United Square, Singapore 307591
Opening Hours: 24 hours, daily
Wifi: Yes
Power Plugs: Yes
Aircon: Yes

Starbucks (Plaza Singapura)
Address: Plaza Singapura #01-53, 68 Orchard Road, Singapore 238839
Opening Hours: 24 hours, daily
Wifi: Yes
Power Plugs: Yes
Aircon: Yes

Starbucks (The Cathay)
Address: The Cathay #01-05, 2 Handy Road, Singapore 229233
Opening Hours: 24 hours, daily
Wifi: Yes
Power Plugs: Yes
Aircon: Yes

Starbucks (Raffles City)
Address: Raffles City Shopping Centre #01-46, 252 North Bridge Road, Singapore 179103
Opening Hours: 24 hours, daily
Wifi: Yes
Power Plugs: Yes
Aircon: Yes 

Starbucks (NUS University Town)
Address: Education Resource Centre #B1-01, 8 College Avenue West, Singapore 138608
Opening Hours: 24 hours, daily
Wifi: Yes
Power Plugs: Yes
Aircon: Yes
Accessible to the public 

Cafés

Besides libraries and Starbucks outlets, some students study better in cafés where they can mug and eat at the same time. For gluttons people like these, finding a good café that is mugging-friendly can be challenging. But don’t worry; we’ve already done the homework for you! Here are 3 cafes with air-con, Wi-Fi, power plugs and awesome food.

Do buy some food and drinks while you’re at the cafe, and make way for other customers if you really need to!

The Book Café

The Book Café is a cosy book-themed café, located along Robertson Quay. The interior is filled with many seats and sofas. Customers can browse through the books available on the shelves while they sip on a cup of freshly brewed coffee. Enjoy a plate of Eggs Royale with Smoked Salmon ($12.95) or a delicious Shibuya Toast ($10.50) while you study. The café also offers free Wi-Fi and has many power sockets available for their customers.

The Book Cafe
Address: Seng Kee Building, 20 Martin Road #01-02 Singapore 239070
Opening Hours: Sun – Thu: 8:30am – 10:30pm; Fri – Sat: 8:30am – 12am
Wifi: Yes
Power Plugs: Yes
Aircon: Yes

The Coffee Daily

Looking for a quiet café for an afternoon of mugging? The Coffee Daily is the perfect spot. With so much food on the menu, you’ll never stay hungry for long in this café. Tarts ($6.50), and waffles ($4.50) are available on the menu for a sweet treat while studying. Their coffee (a wide range) provides the added boost for concentration as well!

The Coffee Daily
Address: 75 Brighton Crescent, Serangoon Gardens Estate, Singapore 559216
Opening Hours: Mon – Fri: 12pm – 10:30pm; Sat – Sun: 9:30am – 10:30pm
Wifi: Yes
Power Plugs: Yes
Aircon: Yes

Five And Dime

At Five and Dime, you can find the most important thing that all students who study outside need in order to survive: stable Wi-Fi connection. The café also provides power plugs and free parking spaces for those who drive. Five and Dime also has different menus for different times of the day.

Feast on their sumptuous Big Brekkie ($22) at lunchtime or have their Beef Tataki ($15) for dinner. Meeting all the essential needs for a good mugging spot and serving delicious food at the same time, Five and Dime is definitely one of the most mugging-friendly cafés you can find in Singapore.

Five And Dime
Address: 297 River Valley Road, Singapore 238338
Opening Hours: Mon – Thu: 12pm – 12am, Fri: 12pm – 2am, Sat: 10am – 12am, Sun: 10am – 10pm
Wifi: Yes
Power Plugs: Yes
Aircon: Yes

With these study spots, you’ll know exactly where to go to chiong for your upcoming exams! Know any other mugging-friendly places? Let us know!

Also read: Study Spots In Town That Will Make Every Mugging Session A Conducive One!