Common Man Coffee Roasters

I liked the décor, but it was on the noisy side. It was packed, but we only waited for about 10 minutes around 11.30am on a Sunday. The queue was a bit longer when we left around 1. The running theme with the dishes seemed to be that everything was dry unfortunately. The service was quick.
Veggie Wonderland ($ 24) — 3 stars
Sauce please. Or get your eggs soft boiled.
Pancakes ($ 21) — 2.5 stars
Good flavor but very dry, and not many ingredients to go along with it. I had to ask for butter to go along with it, but it would probably have been better with yogurt or some sort of compote.
Eggs Benedict ($ 21)
Tried a bit of this — the eggs were excellent. The ox cheek was a little chewy.
Soy latte ($ 5) — 4 stars
No extra charge for soy! There’re two shots in one glass, and no decaf option just a heads up.
The carpark right next door/​under, off Arnasalam Chetty Road was expensive — $ 3/​hour on weekends, and small! Tight corners.

One of the places I visit every time I am in Singapore and I was a bit surprised to find that I had forgotten to review it. They are located a few blocks from the water at Robertson Quay and it actually means that it feels much calmer despite this place always being popular.
They focus is of course on the coffee as they are a roaster and I often sample several of the different beans that they offer as filter coffees. One of the reasons I find myself a repeat visitor is that they are really good at rotating the selection and there are always at least four different single origins to select from. They are all nicely prepared and while I may not always like all of them the quality is consistently very good. The espresso based beverages are also very good but as I always say — rather have a good filter coffee.
The service is always friendly and even when sitting a bit hidden outside they ensure to check on you at regular intervals (which is not always the case at other places). They also serve very good food and pastries. My main objection here is not the quality as everything I had here as been good but rather that the prices are a bit steep. I do not really feel that I am getting value for money here but it is still not that bad as to stop me from coming here. I do however mainly come for the coffee and often do not even order any food.
They also do hold some workshops and coffee training sessions so the commitment to coffee is really clear. All in all one of the better coffee places in Singapore and well worth a visit.

Amazing place — the house blend of coffee has a deep, robust flavour without being bitter or tasting burnt. The breakfast is fantastic and the selection is broad. Service is not only friendly but amazingly speedy. Highly recommended.
The only downsides are that I find the bar seating to be rather cramped trying to fit my legs under the bar, and that it gets rather crowded at times so there’s a bit of a queue and it’s rather noisy. However, if you’re looking for some hustle and bustle this isn’t necessarily a bad thing!

Really good ambience; love the high ceilings, wooden table, coffee bar. Coffee menu was a little confusing — i originally wanted a cappuccino but they didn’t have it on the menu (only stated black, white and filter); so I ordered the filtered coffee and asked if they have milk but was recommended to not have milk with the coffee so as to taste the flavors of the coffee. The coffee turns out to be really good — it comes in a little jug and a shot glass lol. But would appreciate if the server could mention that they do have other coffees with milk if that’s what I wanted. For food we had the parsley and chili fries and baked almond cake. Fries were crispy and not too oily, and the almond cake was pretty moist and I love the caramel brittles that came with it. Will come back for brunch next time and order their cappuccino!

Just had brunch here and food was delicious! There was a queue when we got there but I thought overall service was good, food was good, I got the pear apple celery juice, and iced latte. I think the coffee is good here, but it’s more for the serious coffee drinkers. I recommend all the dishes I took a photo of they all tasted delicious. I would definitely come back for the food! Coffee is on the sour side for me but again I think it’s for the serious coffee drinkers. I don’t think coffee should be mixed with orange or lemon skin, but I know some coffee places do that, and this place is one of them.

If u just had your brunch and then still craving for a good sweetness. Come to this place. The pancake is so good! It has crumble-​salted caramel-​raspberry and also nice maple syrup on it. The ambience is awesome, thats why i suggest if u want to go here, make a reservation before is the right thing to do. enjoy!

I’m here so much, it’s a wonder I haven’t reviewed yet.
Coffee — I was never a huge fan of the flavour of their house blend but it’s not for lack of freshness or lack of skill in the barista. I’ve had it several times and I get a bit tired of it but it’s a consistently respectable cup. It’s kinda dark and heavy and bold and seems more so than any of the house blends of the many 3^rd wave coffee places I frequent. I enjoy the brighter, fruitier flavours with a bit more subtlety. Regardless, it’s a decent cup consistently served. The steaming technique is good here so you get velvety layers in your flat whites and lattes etc.
Happily and recently, I found out that for no extra charge, you can request one of the other beans in the other grinders. Usually there are 2 others on «tap». I’ve had a single origin Tanzania and Lucky Bastard (which they recommend for flat whites) and enjoyed both. I also tried a single origin India one this week and it was good. Yay as this coffee joint is a really convenient location for me.
Food — They have really yummy bread here, my family and friends have remarked on this several times. I like the pepita (softer with some texture from nuts) and the sourdough (crusty and chewier crust). I enjoy that with an order of avocado — you get half, sprinkled with chilli flakes and served with lemon.
The pancakes also are unusually fluffy moist and tasty like they’ve been made
with brown sugar.
The scrambled eggs here are perfectly done if you like the fluffy texture type with a touch of creaminess. Free range eggs used and the serving size is good.
A range of big mixed plates available — I’ve tried the vegetarian one with haloumi cheese and the one with the beef cheeks, both were good if a touch greasy.
When I don’t feel like having coffee, the fresh kale (mixed with apple and mint) juice is very popular and tastes good while making you feel virtuous.
Service is all smiles — friendly and professional. I heard from the staff that they are going to change the menu soon, I do think it’s about time although please keep the bread, avocado and add some scones!
They also sell beans and coffee stuff. It’s styled after Melbourne coffee places, and that’s not surprising since the co-​owner hails from there.

These guys deserve a great review for their level of service at the very least. The attitudes of the staff makes this place top tier even before I tried the food.
The food and drinks make this that much more enjoyable.
My girlfriend and I spent our Sunday afternoon looking for a good place to grab a good brunch and came across Common Man Coffee Roasters through a friend. We walk in and have a seat at the bar, notice the place completely packed with a young to middle-​aged crowd. Cool vibe.
I ordered the Veggie Wonderland dish which had eggs over artisan sourdough toast, a really good kind of mushroom (I believe portobello), veggies, tomatoes and something that tasted like a really good soft cheese. I also ordered a side of their chorizo hash browns which I didn’t regret at all. Did the apple pear celery juice and a coffee. This is A LOT of food so be wary but it was worth every bite. Loved it.
I didn’t yet finish my coffee so the owner came and asked if I wanted a new fresh cup or if something was wrong with it. So awesome. These guys really do care about whether or not you enjoy the food or if they can improve.
My girlfriend ordered the green pea fritters and the hummus. The hummus and pita bread were fantastic. The green pea fritters she said were OK but the staff noticed afterwards that she didn’t eat the fritter patty itself. They said that they tried it and it wasn’t up to their standards so they gave us dessert on the house (and took off the fritters from the bill).
We did the deconstructed cheesecake which was interesting. It grew on both of us and by our third bites, we really started enjoying it.
Highly recommend for brunch! Great coffee too.

Yum!!! It was SO good. I was visiting Singapore for two weeks and only got to eat there once, but the Turkish breakfast was to die for! I also got a latte that was delicious. Very nice staff, a bit crowded but that’s how you knows it’s good!

This is a high level espresso. The lemon cheesecake is ok at 9 bucks. A bit overpriced. But the espresso is top3 for sure.
Edit: Actually I think after tasting a bunch of my fav recently, this is the best espresso in SG as of now. (Imo of course)

I’m officially on salad addiction, and in my quest in finding good salad (particularly, one that has quinoa salad) in Singapore, I stumbled upon here.
I have tried quite a few salad places in Singapore and have to say this one made it to the top of my top salad list.
I just have to put my two cents comment, given the negative reviews aplenty.
Ordered kale salad from their lunch menu, and would gladly give it an excellent score for its freshness! it is perfectly young and crisp, and lightly seasoned with enough zing on the dressings, and most importantly no soggy kale.
It is appalling how some places could served their salad wilted and soggy.
For its quality and freshness, and definitely consistency, considering I’m coming here on a weekday on an off peak hour, I would say the meal justifies the price.
The service here is above average for Singapore standard. The staff acknowledge you and seated me promptly.
I would definitely be a frequent this place if not for the inconvenient stand alone location and the price being rather not wallet-​friendly.

After a week in Singapore, I had my fill of noodles, fish, and Indian Food. I found CMCR on an ExPat website. It was excellent. I had the organic eggs Benedict. The braised ox cheeks were very tasty. I had a cup of black coffee to accompany my Benedict. Great experience and highly recommend CMCR.

Hmmm… This place has lots of potential. It’s got a large enough space, so it doesn’t feel cramped. The wait staff are suitable friendly and perky. And personable (yay). The vibe is too-​cool-​for-​school, trendy, hip. Then why does it feel like something is off?
The prices.
The food is overpriced. For what I’m paying, it should be better than its competitors who are selling the same things for less. The pancakes were… nice…not wow. The organic eggs Benedict with ox cheeks were nice, but at SGD25, it’s not worth so much. I’d pay less. The croissant Croque Monsieur (or was it Madame?) was dry and of course not cheap either.
I’m overpaying for food that doesn’t wow. The food doesn’t suck, but it’s not outstanding. At those prices.
Therein lies the crux of this place — are you willing to pay SGD35 for a brunch item with average coffee? If you just want the ambience, then by all means. Real foodies wouldn’t visit this place often. Just sayin’.

Brunch, and there is a line. Equally good sign and annoying. Getting seated was quicker than expected, though, and I was very sure the Eggs Benedict I had chosen were the best things possible.
Until I tried the green pea fritters; holy moly.
Super churros, too. And spotless coffee, but they’re roasters, so it better be.
All thumbs up.

It’s interesting how there are both lovers and haters of this place. I’m a lover for sure!
There’s always a line during peak hours but it’s totally worth it. We had the Veggie Wonderland and Turkish Common Man, as well as flat whites for coffee. Everything was as delicious as it looked, the ambiance and service were great and I’ll be back again and again!

Overpriced for what it offers. Ambiance is good but the experience doesn’t live up to the price. Kale salad with basically nothing special costed $ 21.5

A place for kopi and you tiao… NOT. Okay, I was half kidding. I ordered their western hemisphere equivalents, a pour-​over coffee and churros. They’re not half bad, really. But I found their churros really small for S$ 12. Really? Nothing’s exotic about the flour and sugar that goes into these things. These are USD$ 1 a piece, and even less for 10 pesos in Mexico.
I also purchased a pack of their whole beans for brewing at home, it was okay but not really worth the price premium.
The dark furniture, funky interior and custom ceramic cups added to the hipster vibe. Cool hangout spot, a place to see and be seen. However, pricing-​wise, everything is still a little steep. Maybe next time.

Comment dire… encore un café branché a Singapour.
Nous y allons pour le brunch du dimanche, comme tout le monde, et nous faisons la queue pour attendre une table comme tout le monde.
La salle est grande, la déco est au top, on s’amuse a regarder tous les petits détails du lieu.
Le serveur nous fait rentrer et nous installe sur une table en bois de 20 cm de large, ou les convives de chaque coté de la table né sont pas assis au même niveau … en nous disant que nous allons être installé rapidement a une autre table. On commande nos plats et nos boissons, pour patienter.
Des places se libèrent au bar, on nous demande de nous y installer. Nous devons déplacer nous même nos verres d’eau, nos affaires et nos boissons, sans l’aide des serveurs. Nous expliquons que nous voulons une vraie table, le service nous explique que c’est pour nous faire patienter, encore. Pas très pratique de papoter lorsque l’on est 4 accoudé au bar. Nous demandons gentiment une photo souvenir au serveur derrière le bar, qui nous signifie moins gentiment d’attendre 5 minutes car il est occupé.
Une vraie table se libère, les plats arrivent. Pour des prix équivalents, nos plats né sont pas du tout équitable. Mon brunch végé n’est pas du tout copieux, alors que le brunch «Common Man» de ma roomate est beaucoup trop chargé. Le «spicy chicken» né contient que du poulet pas vraiment épicé, du guacamole et de la roquette et les pancakes ont l’air d’avoir déjà été digéré.
Le gout est bon, mais sans plus. Le gout est surtout cher: 25 dols pour une tranche de pain, deux œufs et des légumes.
Préférez les brunchs plus cosi et moins bondé !

This place is awesome! (especially when it’s within walking distance from home)
The décor is really chic. Huge glass windows = perfect for people watching.
I’ve only had their coffee so no comment on the food — maybe next time. Soy latte was smooth and rich.
The only minus is the uncomfortable chair designed with a steel bar instead of an actual back. AC is a little too strong — but that’s everywhere in Singapore.

Fans of 40 Hands are bound to be fans of this place. Why? Same atmosphere and food. Well, not exactly the same food but the same normal type of breakfast.
They were rather strict on the lunch menu starts at 12:00 PM rule (why?!). My gf and I came at 11:30 and I wasn’t very interested in the breakfast options. I didn’t want eggs or toast. I wasn’t in the mood to pop out $ 12 for fruit either. At the end, I settled for the Turkish Commonman but wasn’t too impressed.
Overall, this is not a bad place… the hippest joint at the moment, but I don’t foresee it being so much longer. The coffee wasn’t good… too sour and acidic!
SUM: Go once and don’t come back.

Every time i tried to go here for brunch, there would be a line snaking out the front door. Every. time.
Finally we smartened up one day and made our way down here at 11am. No line yet, but the place was already full and we were seated on the bar. Not a real problem since there were only two of us.
I immediately zero-​ed in on the Turkish Common Man Breakfast ($ 25) — i knew i would love that stuff. My breakfast companion went with the Vegetarian brunch, which is my second option bc they have grilled haloumi and i cant say no that. We each also got a cup of the black coffee.
Verdict? Loved it. They’re not your typical brunch dishes yet still tasty and filling. That crispy feta is freakin delicious and the egg wrapped in some crispy stuff (forgot what it was) is something i’ve never seen before. Had a few bites of the vegetarian brunch too and it was equally delicious. Coffee was good too!
Can’t fault this place. I also spotted churros in the dessert menu, but was way too full after my main dish. Will definitely come back once the crowd has settled down. If they ever will. The line was already snaking out the door again when we left right around noon.