Sin See Tai Malacca

Sin See Tai, Malacca, Coffee Roaster & Café

Sin See Tai

Monica Tindall

Pass over “Hell’s Gate” bridge in Malacca and you just might not come back. In the past, Jalan Jawa was a street of sin with opium dens, prostitution and all sorts of dark temptations. Today, however, there are just as many, but different reasons for staying. One of which, is Sin See Tai, a small-batch coffee roaster and café.

 Sin See Tai  Malacca
Sin See Tai Malacca Cafe
 Sin See Tai
Sin See Tai

On the same street, Malacca’s oldest bar, Sin Hiap Hin Bar, also resides selling locally distilled rice spirits in an assortment of flavours. Above Sin See Tai is a hidden bar, Budi, with excellent craft cocktails currently with a theme of tropical fruits. And, next door, also part of the café is a doughnut and sourdough bakery.

Sin Hiap Hin Bar
Sin Hiap Hin – The Oldest Bar in Malacca

The café itself has a tiny 15 seats, small kitchen and compact menu. Sin See Tai in Hokkein means “New Generation” and true to their name they are an experimental ground exploring the possibilities of quality food and coffee. With no desire to grow big, they focus on keeping things small and thoughtful.

Sin See Tai Menu

Drinks

The highlight of any visit is a cup of caffeine. With speciality beans roasted on-site and a host of high-tech machinery, the team is serious about their brew. Today we have a choice of beans from New Guinea or a blend of Brazilian and Guatemalan. I have a fondness for Latin American origin so it’s the latter in our cups of Cappuccino (RM 10). It’s a well-balanced coffee with equal acidity and bitterness in the finish and a good roundness in the mouth. Cold Brew Latte (RM 13) is another solid good choice with bold coffee balanced by full-cream milk.

Coffee Roaster Melaka
Cappuccino – Sin See Tai Malacca
The Daily Fix Melaka
Cold Brew

Non-caffeine beverages are also available, some of which are cold-pressed juices and house-brewed kombucha (seasonal flavours). Beetroot, carrot, apple, cucumber and lime (RM 12) is a winning combo of earthy, herby and naturally sweet. The Pineapple Kombucha (RM 13) has a mild effervescence and the fruit enhances the fermented flavours of the tea.

The Daily Fix Melaka
Dance to the Beet – Sin See Tai Malacca
Coffee Roaster Melaka
Pineapple Kombucha

Food

Possibly the prettiest bowl of Home-Baked Granola (RM 17) I’ve seen is a great meat-free choice. The crunchy, house-toasted mix is full of oats, walnuts, almonds and pumpkin seeds. Seasonal fruit, yoghurt, dehydrated orange, chia seeds and a sprig of thyme garnish the top, and a shot of milk is served on the side for additional liquid if so desired. I’d be happy to return for this alone. But there is much more to entice the hungry café hopper too…

Sin See Tai Malacca
Home-Baked Granola – Sin See Tai Malacca Cafe

The food menu is a delicious selection of comfort food with ‘real’ bacon a drawcard for many. I’m afraid my eyes are bigger than my belly when our order of Avocado Bacon Toast (RM 21) arrives. Two generous slices of house-made sourdough are topped with avocado, pork bacon, pickles, egg and salad. Bacon and avocado are both good but it’s the slices of crusty, spongy bread that entice me to enquire about purchasing a loaf to take home. (Yes, you can! RM 18 for the country loaf and RM 22 for walnut.)

Sin See Tai Malacca
Avocado Bacon Toast

The Pork Loin Healthy Rice Bowl (RM 17) is presented in warm and comforting layers of Japanese short-grain rice, omelette, corn, cherry tomatoes, cucumber and slices of loin. It’s a complete meal in itself and despite its conservative appearance, is guaranteed to fill a hungry tummy.

Coffee Roaster Melaka
Pork Loin Healthy Rice Bowl – Sin See Tai Malacca

Lastly, Quinoa Barley Risotto (RM 18) makes an excellent lunch. The grains are nicely chewy and the bacon and mushrooms cooked with miso butter and truffle oil offer so much flavour. There’s a gentle thread of spice as well that only encourages us to keep on digging back in… until it’s all gone.

Sin See Tai Malacca
Quinoa Barley Risotto

Sin See Tai Review

We’ve had such a great experience at Sin See Tai and we haven’t even tried their doughnuts (available weekends) or bagels (advance order for Wednesdays), which only provide even more reasons to return. If this is what you get after passing “hell’s bridge,” then bring on the fire and brimstone, ‘cause we’re settling in.

Reasons to visit Sin See Tai: excellent coffee made on their house-roasted beans; great sourdough; loved the granola, and the quinoa barley risotto; charming setting; friendly team.

Sin See Tai
Micro-roastery & Café
18 Jalan Jawa 75100
Malacca City, Malaysia
www.facebook.com/sinseetai
+6 016 221 6855
[email protected]

Sin See Tai Opening Hours
Daily 10 am – 6 pm

Find more spots to explore in Malacca here and stay up to date with the happenings around Malaysia here and here.

2 Comments

  1. I wonder if they serve strong old school black local coffee with butter added! I love that!!!

  2. I love sourdough but not easy to get here! Looks an interesting place. Cheers Diane

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