Matcha, matcha everywhere. At home cafés, at hawker centres, even right outside Maxwell Food Centre.
If you’re used to seeing kopi and teh at every corner, this green-and-white stall might surprise you.
MARKET specialises in Matcha Latte and specialty coffee, reminding me a little of Hi Coffee at Hong Lim Food Centre.
The branding is quite hipster, and feels young.
For Matcha Latte lovers, they’ve got Matcha Latte ($6.50), Matcha Cloud Latte ($6.50), Strawberry Matcha Cloud ($6.50), while the Dirty Matcha Cloud ($6.50) mixes in a shot of espresso for extra punch.
The Strawberry Matcha Cloud ($6.50) came layered, looking pretty enough for Instagram.
The first sip was all about the cloud: thick matcha foam, slightly grassy but smooth, giving way to a burst of strawberry jam.
Comparing with some of the others (and I had a lot of strawberry matcha of late), I found the strawberry slightly artificial, and some fresh fruit would have elevated this.
Yes, I know. Costing.
The matcha underneath held its own, and it avoided the bitterness you sometimes get at cheaper stalls.
For a hot day, it’s cold, filling, and will make anyone with a sweet tooth happy.
There is also the Houjicha Latte ($6.50) for those who want something roasted and mellow, or Down Right Dirty ($7.50) with houjicha on the bottom and a thick cloud of foamed matcha on top.
MARKET’s version was smooth and easy to drink, but I wished for a bolder roastiness and deeper aroma. It was not a bad cup by any means.
The snack side focuses on waffles: Original Plain ($2.50), Hazelnut Chocolate ($3.50), Crunchy Peanut Fritter ($3.50), Singapore Kaya Butter ($3.50), and Choc & Strawberry Jam ($4.00).
If you want pandan fragrance or local flair, the kaya butter one is the way to go.
Here, the waffle was crisp at the edges and soft inside, but it lacked the punchy pandan aroma you get at old-school neighbourhood bakeries.
The kaya spread was sweet and smooth, but had that commercial taste you find in supermarket jars. The butter was thin, so it melted away rather than making each bite rich and creamy.
Don’t get me wrong, as the waffle was warm and satisfying enough for a quick snack. But if you grew up on the thick, fragrant pandan waffles from your local heartland bakery, this may feel a bit tame.
MARKET at Maxwell is a cheerful spot if you want something different from your usual local coffee drinks.
It brings café-style matcha drinks to the hawker scene, proof that matcha mania in Singapore isn’t going away any time soon.
MARKET at Maxwell
Maxwell Food Centre #01-K1, 1 Kadayanallur St, Singapore 069184
Opening Hours: 11am – 9pm (Mon – Sun)
Other Related Entries
Hi Coffee (Hong Lim Food Centre)
Fatto Catto (Simon Road)
Hvala (111 Somerset)
Kurasu Singapore (Waterloo Street)
Calligraph Coffee (Duo Galleria)
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