Hvala has become a familiar name to many café-goers in Singapore, known for its tea-centred calm and sleek interiors.
Now, with its new concept Hvala Kissa at 100AM Mall in Tanjong Pagar, it takes a surprising turn.
Instead of matcha and tea as the main draw, the spotlight here falls on coffee. Specifically, decaffeinated coffee.
Yes, a café that proudly serves coffee without the caffeine kick.
The word “Kissa” comes from Japan’s kissaten culture, where cafés were places of quiet comfort rather than hurried caffeine runs.
Here, soft light, pale wood, and the faint scent of roasted beans fill the air.
You can still get your matcha and hojicha fix, but the menu now revolves around carefully prepared espresso, filter, and milk-based drinks available in both regular and decaf forms.
The drinks list runs long. Espresso-based choices include Double Espresso ($4.50), Long Black ($5.50 for hot, $6.50 for iced), Flat White ($6–8), Piccolo Latte ($5.50–7.50) and Caffè Macchiato ($5.50).
For something smoother, there are Immersion and Kyūsu Filter Brews (from $7.50), Cold Brew ($7.50), Kuromitsu Caffè Latte ($6.90–8.90), and Hokkaido Butter Coffee ($6.50).
I tried all three of the decaf desserts – the Coffee Basque Cheesecake, Coffee Pecan Tart, and Coffee Opera.
My favourite was easily the Coffee Pecan Tart ($10.90), which offered a buttery crust and nutty coffee filling that paired so well with a cup of latte.
The Coffee Basque Cheesecake ($10.90) had that subtle bitterness from the decaf coffee infusion, though I wished it was more molten and creamy.
As for the Coffee Opera ($9.90), this was layered with almond sponge, butter cream, and chocolate ganache. And the coffee punch was strongest among all three.
For something decaf, it carried surprising depth.
What struck me most was how ‘normal’ it all felt. Often, “decaf” sounds like a compromise, but here, it’s treated with the same care and precision as any specialty coffee.
For people who have to cut caffeine after 3pm or 4pm, you get the flavour without the fidgeting.
Somewhere to order a latte at 8pm (they close at 9pm) and still sleep soundly later.
Hvala Kissa
100AM Mall #01-05, 100 Tras Street, Singapore 079027 (Near Tanjong Pagar MRT)
Opening Hours: 8:30am – 9pm (Mon – Fri), 10am – 9pm (Sat – Sun)
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* Follow @DanielFoodDiary on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Telegram for more food news, food videos and travel highlights. This meal was a treat from a friend, but all opinions shared are my own.
