Lam Yeo Coffee Powder Factory

Coffee roastery · Balestier ·

Lam Yeo Coffee Powder Factory

Coffee roastery · Balestier ·

Traditional Singaporean coffee roaster, gourmet beans, honest service

Information

328 Balestier Rd, Singapore 329760 Get directions

SGD 20–30

@onthegrid

18,031 Postcards · 836 Cities

On the Grid : Lam Yeo Coffee Powder

"One of the few coffee traders left today, Lam Yeo Coffee Powder Factory has been selling coffee for over 50 years, and little has changed since it was first founded. Even though the shop still retains elements that bring to mind the old-school shops of yesteryears, owner Lam Yeo is anything but old-fashioned. Instead, his forward-looking perspective ensures that the shop continues to introduce something new to their customers, be it gourmet coffee beans from South America or Guatemala popular with the trendy cafe wave. As you marvel at the vintage grinders and tools, be sure to try their best sellers — Bali Coffee and Arabica Mendeling." - OuterEdit

https://onthegrid.city/singapore/balestier/lam-eeo-coffee-powder

Lam Yeo Coffee Powder Factory

@onthegrid

18,031 Postcards · 836 Cities

"Lam Yeo Coffee Powder, Balestier by OuterEdit. One of the few coffee traders left today, Lam Yeo Coffee Powder Factory has been selling coffee for over 50 years, and little has changed since it was first founded. Even though the shop still retains elements that bring to mind the old-school shops of yesteryears, owner Lam Yeo is anything but old-fashioned. Instead, his forward-looking perspective ensures that the shop continues to introduce something new to their customers, be it gourmet coffee beans from South America or Guatemala popular with the trendy cafe wave. As you marvel at the vintage grinders and tools, be sure to try their best sellers — Bali Coffee and Arabica Mendeling."

Singapore

Lam Yeo Coffee Powder Factory

@silverkris

10,054 Postcards · 2,273 Cities

Time warp: 3 themed itineraries to discover old-time Singapore - SilverKris

"One of the last family-run coffee businesses in the city, established in 1959 and regarded as a pillar of local coffee culture. The shop is known for its Singapore-style kopi that is traditionally roasted and blended for a distinctive aroma and flavour; it also stocks exotic and gourmet beans and will blend purchases to suit your home machine. The storefront and old-school equipment retain a nostalgic, unchanged feel." - Ink Creative Studios

https://silverkris.singaporeair.com/inspiration/nature-adventure/city/time-warp-3-themed-itineraries-to-discover-old-time-singapore/

Lam Yeo Coffee Powder Factory

Harlee Q

Google

Love love love everything about the decor of the shop including the fixtures like the owners; aged with grace. Down to earth, not pretentious and mind you, they are not replicas. So much character like the owners (young and old) for the eyes to feast on. Most of all the coffee beans are so aromatic that it draws you to the shop from half a mile away. I am not a coffee drinker, know next to nothing about coffee beans hence I have a 1001 questions to determine which suits my hub’s taste. They were patient with my inquiries, straight to the point. Not pushy on closing a sales which i value highly nor did they mind if I didn’t purchase on my first visit. But I returned with my partner several days later and again, they were accommodating with our request on packaging. I chose to support local and happy with my decision as the quality of their coffee is way superior than what you get at Starbucks.

Lauren

Google

Owners are friendly and coffee smells wonderful. Large selection and very reasonable prices. Certainly nostalgic feel and honest service — I asked for 500g of the best selling and aunty bagged me up one of the most reasonably-priced ones; she could have told me the $20 / kg was best selling but gave me the $8 / kg and I appreciate her honesty. If you're reconsidering due to TLC's scathing review, ignore that person; they gave 5 stars to Wingstop. I prefer to support local.

Shocho S.

Google

My friend recommended me that I should try their coffee. I have very little knowledge of coffee, so I asked for 2 bags of Bali beans and a bag of Bali powder. I choose Bali solely based on the look. I was told that the one I chose was roasted with sugar, so not recommended to grind at home. Now, this is an superb service. I instantly respected the honesty and respect the shop personnel showed. I love the atmosphere of the shop, the service I received, and of course, the quality of coffee. Out of my respect, I took photos without store personnel. Check the place yourself. This shop is an absolute jem. I cannot tell you enough how rare this kind of shop is nowadays. I have been patronizing this shop many times and the staff are always helpful and ask me questions to make sure I get exactly what I want. Excellent service that I very much appreciate.

TLC Is In The H.

Google

Humble, Warm and Friendly service? Not. Consistently Crass and Dismissive? You bet. By all means, come here to stock up on cheap coffee beans but just be thankful if you get treated in a civil manner cos the default treatment I've got over the past 7 years, 50% of the time is either rough and gruff stares from the two oldies or on good days, she smiles or he nods. Now the son is another story altogether. He's doing you a favour by even dignifying your presence and bagging the beans if he isn't berating some other family member. Lucky if he graces you with his presence in their old, "charming", run-down shophouse. Essentially, this is a business that's milking the nostalgic element of their brand that's basic, bare-bones and worn around the edges cos I reckon, they're simply too cheap to renovate the space they operate in. Crazy thing is you can't help but feel like you're being a pain asking to buy their coffee beans, god forbid having them prepare the grounds for you. It's done with frowns, scowls and sarcastic words exchanged between themselves. If not for their inexpensive offerings relative to other roasters around, I would've flipped the bird at them on the numerous occasions they spoke in dialect and mandarin thinking I didn't understand. This family only knows how to acknowledge your presence when it's time for you to settle the bill. Guess we all know why they exist. For the sake of tradition or just plain ol' greed hiding in plain sight. If you package their behaviour as part of the 'charm' of their old-school business, I applaud your naivety and your 'fresh' perspective but IMO, this is simply an ugly side of humanity on full display.

Tan A.

Google

Buying coffee beans is here an experience! It’s almost like the place is stuck in time and retains much of its yesteryear charm. It’s a lovely experience and I’ll definitely be back to try other coffee beans. Probably can try for 5 years if I choose 2 types per visit. 😂 Long may your business continue to flourish! ❤️ Support local. 🇸🇬

K T.

Google

Happened to pass by this very old-school coffee roaster. The heritage looking shop looks like it has a lot of history, and I believe their coffee notes must be quite interesting. Looking forward to dropping by again to make a purchase.

Soo T.

Google

I have been a customer for the last 15 years and can't find a better place for value for money quality beans and friendly service. Only issue is it's closed on Wed and Sun, and there is no convenient car park. Manage your expectations, this is a mom n pop shop, not a boutique coffee beans shop that charges a premium for customer service.

Marius Bjerggaard N.

Google

Great small coffee roaster! Good selection with new beans coming in regularly. I had the Sumatra which was about $10 for a 200 gram back. (similar to the black pouch seen in the foreground of the blue mountain coffee picture)

Terry L.

Yelp

Great old school coffee powder place. Got my Nanyang Coffee powder fix. Long way to go to buy Coffee but I hate Star$$$s. Good till my next trip!

Peter L.

Yelp

Very cool old school coffee bean store on Balestier open since 1959 (since 1960 in current location). They actually have a very cool website, but everything else is old school, from the way they will pack up the beans to how the old couple will wrote down your purchases for inventory in a notebook. As the other review noted, the owner has two types of beans here: blends for local coffee and single-origin beans. I purchased 250g of Guatemala beans for half the price of other places (only $10 SGD!), and the quality is much better than places like SBUX. I don't know why I didn't come here earlier, as I drink a lot of coffee at home. Will also have to try some of the other single origin beans from South America, Africa and Asia as well, and perhaps one day, I might even try to learn how to make a proper kopi as well :).

David S.

Yelp

Coffee. Not for here. You buy beans and take them away. He's got two types here: the local roasts and the non-local roasts. For the local stuff, it's the over roasted with sugar and butter that makes the coffee, well, require condensed milk and evaporated powder. For the non-local stuff, he's got some pretty interesting single-origin stuff and it's pretty fresh by look and smell. And he knows his stuff...he was so happy to talk coffee and the differences between beans and roasts. I told him he should go sell to the snazzy Wheeler's Yard around the block. He chuckled. So I picked up some Guatemalan beans (which he ran through his mill for me because my apartment doesn't have a grinder) and it's fantastic. He'll probably hold the spot of my favorite coffee bean purveyor.