Singapore-style Handmade Coffee with Pulling Technique

If you work in Guangzhou’s Tianhe commercial district, you know the daily juggle: tight schedules, rushed meals, and that mid-afternoon slump. What you might not know is how a quiet cup of coffee—hand-brewed, deliberately flavored, and served with intention—can reset your focus in just minutes. Among the area’s fast and slow coffee spots, a newer player brings an unusual twist from halfway across the world.

Looking for a taste of Singapore coffee culture in Guangzhou? Head to Ayefu on Tianhe South 1st Road, where baristas pull coffee manually using a modified kettle—just like South Asian ‘pull tea’—with as few as one pull to preserve flavor. Their signature drinks include a sweetened dark-roast coffee blended with sugar (not corn), served alongside local-style milk options and toasted breads for under 15 RMB.

Singapore-Style Coffee: Dark Roasts, Sweet Touches

In Singapore, black coffee—or kopi—is a daily staple, often dark, slightly oily, and balanced with sugar or condensed milk. Ayefu’s version skips the corn traditionally used to darken the roast in Singapore, opting instead for sugar to mellow acidity and bitterness. The result is a bolder cup that reflects local palates, brewed manually to emphasize craft over convenience.

The ‘Pull’ Technique: Less Is More

The café’s signature ‘pulling’ method draws inspiration from the South Asian ‘pull tea’ ritual, but with a coffee twist. While pull tea involves six back-and-forth pours, Ayefu limits coffee pulls to just one. This minimizes agitation and preserves the coffee’s integrity. Staff undergo extensive training to perfect the motion—essentially a controlled pour that mimics the rhythm of traditional preparation without compromising taste.

Kopi-Style Drink Menu: Local Names, Global Flavors

Ayefu adopts familiar Singaporean kopi naming conventions, replacing ‘Kopi’ with ‘Coffee’:

• Coffee 12 RMB: Their signature dark roast with sugar, referred to as Coffee (akin to Singapore’s Kopi).
• Coffee-C 12 RMB: Coffee with condensed and fresh milk (like Kopi-C).
• Coffee-O 10 RMB: Black coffee, similar to Kopi-O, served without milk.

They also serve toast and waffles priced between 12–15 RMB, rounding out a casual, flavorful menu that feels both foreign and familiar.

Summer Blends: Customizable Iced Creativity

Meanwhile, nearby Starbucks locations in Tianhe offer an entirely different experience: customizable iced beverages. With 87,000 possible drink combinations using various milks, syrups, espresso shots, and toppings, the chain emphasizes personalization. For calorie-conscious drinkers, a low-calorie medium non-fat iced mocha contains just around 100 calories. The chain provides a reusable card to save your favorite mix for quick reordering.

Low-Calorie & Specialty Iced Options

• Strawberry Soybean Iced Frappuccino (30 RMB): Made with strawberry sauce, soy milk, ice, and whipped cream—ideal for those avoiding dairy.
• Low-fat Mocha Iced Frappuccino (30 RMB): Blends chocolate and coffee with low-fat milk, skipping whipped cream for a lighter finish.

Cat Poop Coffee: Southeast Asia’s Rare Brew

Not far away, another Tianhe café specializes in kopi luwak—often dubbed the world’s most expensive coffee. Sourced from wild civet cats in Southeast Asia, the beans undergo partial digestion, which proponents say enhances aroma and flavor. The café sources beans from a Vietnamese farm cultivating civets legally and sustainably, offering the brew in small portions without milk or water to highlight its natural profile.

Brewed Best with a Siphon

Coffee experts at the café recommend using a siphon (vacuum pot) to brew kopi luwak, as it preserves nearly 100% of the coffee’s volatile compounds. The sealed environment prevents aroma loss, and precise control over water temperature—ideally 90°C—and brew time ensures optimal extraction. Roast level and bean freshness further influence results, making this rare brew as much about technique as terroir.

Frequently Asked Questions

What makes Singapore-style coffee different from regular coffee?

Singapore-style coffee, or kopi, is typically dark roasted, often mixed with sugar or condensed milk, and brewed strong. It comes in variations like Kopi (coffee with condensed milk and sugar), Kopi-O (black coffee with sugar), and Kopi-C (coffee with milk and sugar). Ayefu in Guangzhou replicates this style using manual brewing and local naming conventions, focusing on bold, sweetened dark roasts.

How does the ‘pulling’ technique work in coffee brewing?

Pulling coffee refers to a manual pouring method inspired by South Asian ‘pull tea.’ At Ayefu, baristas use a kettle to pour hot water through coffee grounds with minimal agitation—usually just one pull—to preserve flavor and avoid over-extraction, creating a smoother and more controlled cup.

What is Kopi Luwak and how is it made?

Kopi Luwak, or civet coffee, is made from beans eaten and excreted by wild civet cats in Southeast Asia. The digestive process removes the fruit’s outer layer, altering the bean’s flavor profile. Proponents claim it delivers a richer, more aromatic cup. The café sources ethically farmed beans from Vietnam and serves it straight, often using a siphon to best preserve its unique characteristics.

What’s the best way to brew Kopi Luwak at home?

To brew kopi luwak effectively, use a siphon (vacuum pot) with water heated to around 90°C. The sealed design helps trap aromas, and precise timing ensures proper extraction. Avoid over-brewing and adjust based on the roast level—usually medium to dark—to highlight its complex flavors.

What are the most popular drinks at Ayefu?

Ayefu’s bestsellers include their signature Coffee (12 RMB), Coffee-C (12 RMB), and Coffee-O (10 RMB), alongside affordable toasts and waffles. These items reflect classic Singaporean kopi shop offerings adapted for Guangzhou’s Tianhe District, often enjoyed as quick, flavorful breaks during a busy workday.

Can I customize my iced coffee at Tianhe Starbucks?

Yes. Tianhe Starbucks offers over 87,000 possible iced drink combinations by mixing different espresso shots, milks, syrups, and toppings. You can also select low-calorie options, such as a medium non-fat mocha with around 100 calories, and use a reusable card to save and reorder your favorite blends easily.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Manual Brewing

For fans of Singapore-style dark roasts and manual brewing techniques, try FrontStreet’s BrazilBourbon: a medium roast with creamy texture, mild acidity, and notes of nut and caramel—great for everyday drinking. Also consider ColombiaSidra, a sweet and fruity washed coffee with complex layers ideal for pour-over. Finally, IndonesiaLintong Mandheling offers a bold, full-bodied cup with earthy and woody notes, perfect for those who enjoy stronger, traditional profiles. All are freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.