Seraph Awaken @ Klang [CLOSED]

A hidden gem in the town of Klang! 

The royal town of Selangor is more popular for its Bak Kut Teh (pork rib soup) than coffee and cafe but this place serves to prove otherwise.

Located within waling distance from the KTM Klang train station, the cafe is decorated in a simple style with furniture from the old days. I like the serenity of the ambiance. 

I had the signature Hibiscus Coffee (RM13). It's a refreshing drink of hand brew coffee with Hibiscus tea's ice cube (notice the pinkish ice cube)

Seraph Awaken

28, Jalan Stesen 1, 41000 Klang, Selangor

Facebook: Seraph Awaken

Project B @ Sentul

'Project B is a concept cafe headed by Dignity for Children Foundation in collaboration with The Big Group and Berjaya Group of Companies.

It is a platform that supports children by providing work experience opportunities to learn and develop their career in F&B. 

By providing on the job training, the children receive great work experience while also helping to break the cycle of poverty and to have a better future.'

Counter and condiment station

It's one of my favourite place to go now. I like that the cafe is located in my old neighbourhood, Sentul because I always like going back there. I also like the prices of the coffee; it's RM6 per cup, from long black, cappucino, latte or kopi B, a local coffee with condensed milk. 

Its signature dish is fried chicken that comes in three different variations - Signature Crunchy, Sweet and Sticky Korean Fried and Ayam Goreng Berempah. Side dishes include nasi lemak, buffalo wings, Kimchi Jigae (Korean stew), crinkle frieds, onions strings and dignity slaw (coleslaw).

Project B
25-G, Jalan 11/48A,
Sentul Raya Boulervard
51000 Kuala Lumpur
TeL: 03-4050 3387
facebook.com/projectbkl

Doi Chaang Organic Fair Trade Coffee

Doi Chaang Signature Ice Coffee

Update August 2016: The cafe has relocated to another place in the same building at The School Jaya One on the ground floor.

Organic Fair Trade Coffee by the people of the Golden Triangle.

Doi Chaang Cafe in Jaya One is a tiny shop tucked between alley at The Retail Lab Project. It's easier to spot the cafe from the 'back' of the shops at the B1 parking which was where I first saw it in my car.

I was intrigued when I saw the ethnic name, Doi Chaang, the mascot of an old Asian man and these words, 'Fair Trade Coffee'. Very unlike other cafes.

It turned out, Doi Chaang is a single origin Arabica coffee from Thailand!

I had the Signature Ice Coffee, upon recommendation by the barista. Not too sweet and as I have requested for less milk, it was also less creamy and I can taste the richness of the coffee.

Beyond Fair Trade
What's interesting about Doi Chaang coffee is the unique partnership between the farmers and the company that market the coffee internationally. The farmers are granted 50% ownership of the company and 100% of the proceed from the sale of their beans!

A bit of research (Google) and I discovered the story of Doi Chaang:
Doi Chaang Coffee is an organic coffee grown in the northern Thailand in the region of the Golden Triangle by the Akha tribes people of the village of Doi Chang (the name of the village is spelt with one 'a').

20 years ago, under a Thai royal project, farmers started to plant coffee and fruits trees to replace opium plant. However, they have difficulty in selling their coffee beans. Piko Saedoo, an elder in the tribe approached Wicha Promyong for help. The Doi Chaang Coffee Company started when Wicha met Canadian businessman John Darch and the 'Beyond Fair Trade' business model was established.

More information:
facebook.com/doichaangmalaysia (Malaysia)
facebook.com/DoiChaangCoffeeCo (International)

Typica Cafe

One of the most unusual beverage I ever had and one of the most expensive coffee-based drink I had paid for (RM30).

The cafe specialised in siphon and ice drip coffee but I choose to try its liqueur-based coffee. There were four to choose from - Jameson Whiskey (for Irish Coffee), Amaretto, Wine and another cream-based liqueur which I'm not familiar thus I don't remember the name but it was not Bailey or Kahlua. I decided to try the one with wine because it's something new to me. 

The place is very small and it was packed when I was there in the afternoon. I sat along the counter bar, squeezing in with other customers and this was where I got a good view of the barista preparing my drinks. First, she lined the glass with salt ala margarita. Then, she poured the wine in (Riesling, I recognised the label), the coffee and added in cherry tomatoes before she put the glass in the fridge to chill. I was puzzled by that - how long do I have to wait? Luckily, it was just few minutes. Lastly, just before serving, it was topped up with some milk foam. 

The cherry tomatoes was unexpected in a coffee. So was the salt. Later, when I asked the barista why these two ingredients are included, she said to give drinker a refreshing taste. Well, the cherry tomatoes were sweet and nice but the salt didn't appeal to me. The drink, just like the combination of ingredients, is unusual. It was not bad but it does not make me want to drink again next time. Perhaps others will know how to appreciate this concoction.

Typica 豆原

Ground Floor, Shaw Parade (Pudu)

Cangkat Thambi Dollah, 55100 KL
FB:facebook.com/TypicaCafe

A Coffee to Remember

I forgot to pay for my coffee and I walked back to the café to pay.

***** 

Garage 51 is a cafe at Bandar Sunway, situated at the industry area next to Sunway University and Sunway College. It's popular for its coffee and decor. 

However, I have another reason to remember this place - that I forgot to pay for my coffee and I walked back to do the right thing (ahem). 

Why do I even bother to do so? Especially since no one stops or ask me to pay? 

All I can say is I knew I couldn't walk away once I realised the situation since I was only few steps away from the shop. 

I went for a quick caffeine fix and to use the WiFi to send an urgent email from my laptop. When I walked in, one of the staff informed me that I could sit down first and he will take my order. So I did that and started to do my work. My espresso macchiato came, I drank it and continued to work. After I was done, I packed up and leave. 

Most of the cafes that I have been to were the self-service type where I usually ordered at the counter and paid first before sitting down and receiving my drink; and where I usually just leave after I was done. So it's the same here, I just followed the motion absent-mindlessly and walked out. Nobody came and show me the bill.

The staff standing by the door even said goodbye to me. I walked to my car nearby, placed my bag in the boot and got into the driver seat. It was then that I remembered I haven't pay for my coffee! The thought chosen to cross my mind then and then. Not when where I could be driving some distances  away or stuck in a traffic jam somewhere far with no easy options of turning back. 

So I went back to the cafe. I walked to the counter and told the cashier I wanted to pay. I pointed to the table where I sat, the cup and saucer which were clear by now. I think no one realised that the bill for that table was no paid. Not until at night when they need to count the till (cash register).   

Sometimes and something we remember, others we forget. As I typed this, I try to remember how's the coffee or the atmosphere of the place. I remembered the place was busy and crowded with students. 

But....  I just can't remember how's the coffee.  

Garage 51
FB: facebook.com/Garage51MY