Attention all coffee addicts and kopi enthusiasts – brace yourselves for something revolutionary! This International Coffee Month, Citadines is serving up a brew-tiful experience that’ll feed your kopi addiction at a whole new level. Partnering with the legendary Kim Guan Guan Coffee Roaster Pte Ltd, home to the nation-favourite Kim’s Duet, Citadines is offering a tour that’s more than just a caffeine fix. It’s a deep dive into the rich, aromatic world of Singapore’s kopi culture, where every sip tells a story. Get ready to roast, toast, and boast about this one-of-a-kind experience!
Unlike anything we’ve seen any hotel do in this special promotion, Citadines doesn’t just give you delicious coffee to sip on. Oh, no. Citadines brings you to the root and shows you where the magic is created. When you’re a guest at Citadines in October, International Coffee Month, you get to tour a Nanyang coffee roastery with Kim Guan Guan Coffee Trading Pte Ltd! I’d love to share my own experience, but I also refuse to divulge too much to keep that magic alive for you when you head down yourself. Half of the spark of the roastery is in the unexpected!
Right off the bat, let’s set one thing straight. This is no ordinary gourmet coffee. This is kopi, which is unique to its Southeast Asian roots. And the kopi you see at this roastery isn’t just Nanyang coffee, but Singapore coffee. It’s the unique kopi you crave in the mornings when you’re away from home or need a pick-me-up.
But what makes it different from its traditional, gourmet counterpart? Ah, the most significant difference lies in its strength. It’s often brewed to taste more robust and intense than your typical cuppa’ Joe. It’s as if you can taste the roast on those beans in every sip. It’s the taste of home.
Anyway, the actual roastery itself is very reminiscent of a factory. After all, it’s where your kopi is birthed – from roasting the bean to packing your iconic Kim’s Duet sachets and packets. It will be a loud, warm, and close look at heavy-duty machinery. This means that you’d want to dress comfortably.
The roastery is located in the depths of Bedok, and you will be in charge of booking your own slot by emailing the roastery and getting there. You will need a party of at least five people for this, so gather your army and head down to the enchanting land of Kim Guan Guan Coffee’s legacy!
When you get there, you will be greeted with a little history lesson on Kim Guan Guan Coffee and some basics on what Singapore or Nanyang coffee really is, compared to its Western counterpart. You will also spot the original signboard of the original roastery of Kim Guan Guan Coffee! As it sits there majestically to greet you, remember the history that this sign must have witnessed. It represents the journey and evolution of this iconic coffee roaster, which has birthed some of our most memorable and intimate kopi moments. It truly is so special.
Your tour guide will very kindly share insightful knowledge about Kim Guan Guan Coffee’s story and the Nanyang coffee roastery’s processes to deliver us a perfect cup of Kim’s Duet. They will lead you to the industrial machinery that Jason Soon, the founder of Kim Guan Coffee, built on his own. Witnessing it in all its glory leaves you to wonder how passionate (or beautifully crazy!) Jason must have been able to put together something so majestic and massive.
Watching the machine do its thing is a sight to behold! But be warned that the machinery makes the room deafening, so you can’t hear your guides that well. I mean, you are so close to something so heavy-duty, which is in itself an opportunity we rarely get.
Nonetheless, they show you (and even let you taste!) the raw beans before and after they are roasted, bringing you around the machines as they walk you through their work. And you’ll see them in action as they roast the beans right before your eyes! The workers hard at work are donned in their safety gear and work in such proximity to the machines. Their trained hands move swiftly and precisely, like clockwork. As a coffee (or kopi) enthusiast, watching this in person is nothing short of a spiritual reawakening.
After this, you witness the coffee beans being ground into the powder we see in our sachets and packets. You also watch the entire packing process, marvelling at the machines producing the goodies you’d kill to reach through the window. As your jaw drops while you watch your favourite beverage on earth being birthed, your guide will share the process with you, letting your inner coffee geek freak out! The tour continues through the property to show you where more of the magic happens.
The entire experience is truly one-of-a-kind, courtesy of Citadines! It’s such a close look at the creation of the very kopi you sip on every morning. The caffeine fix we crave every time we feel our eyelids drooping is birthed right here, and this experience is all yours when you stay at Citadines.
But fret not if you can’t join the Nanyang coffee roastery tour. Citadines brings the magic of kopi right down to your bedroom and lobby to enrich your stay. They have a mini-coffee exhibit showcasing the history of Singapore’s kopi, the art of traditional kopi roasting, interactive sensory experiences, and insights into Robusta and Arabica beans.
As a guest, during International Coffee Month of October, you can check out coffee workshops like DIY Coffee Scrub, How to Make Bullet Coffee, and traditional coffee appreciation sessions every Saturday at selected Citadines properties. When you stay at this hotel, the drinks in every room include the Kim’s Duet favourites! But stay tuned to our review on the hotel stay at Citadines Rochor, which is coming soon!
Booking for stays during International Coffee Month in October starts now and ends on 30 September! You can even enjoy an additional 5% off with Rediscover Singapore offers that cut the prices but never the magic.
Ready to sip your way through Singapore’s rich kopi culture? There’s no better time to book a stay with Citadines and dive into this unique, brew-tiful adventure. Whether you’re a coffee lover or just curious about the magic behind Nanyang’s legendary Kim’s Duet, this exclusive tour offers something extraordinary. I haven’t even laid bare all the sorcery you’ll uncover when you step foot in the roastery! Book your stay at Citadines, and let your love for coffee lead to an unforgettable journey steeped in flavour and culture. Your perfect brew is waiting!
International Coffee Month with Citadines
🗓️Date: 1 to 31 October 2024
📍Locations: Citadines Balestier Singapore, Citadines Fusionopolis Singapore, Citadines Raffles Place Singapore, Citadines Rochor Singapore, Citadines Science Park Singapore, Citadines Connect Rochester Singapore
Book your stay with Citadines for International Coffee Month this October right now! Check out The Ascott Limited’s official website for all things Citadines. And stay tuned to their Instagram and TikTok socials for more of their cool happenings.
Photos by Leo Chia and Brendan Tan of the DANAMIC Team.
