A Champion's Brew: Filter Coffee at Oaks Coffee Roaster

This week, I visited Oaks Coffee Roaster on Bukit Timah Road. Founded by 2025 Singapore National Barista Champion Jervis Tan, it’s a space that takes coffee seriously, from in-house roasting to a highly technical brew bar.

I wasn't just there for the aesthetics, although the pink ceramic cup caught my eye. I was there to see if a $10 filter coffee lived up to the hype.

The Setup: The Brew Bar You can tell a lot about a cafe by its brew bar. Oaks uses a lineup of Origami drippers, and they allow guests to sniff the filter coffee from the glass bell jars. The setup removes the guesswork and ensures every cup that hits the counter is exactly what the roaster intended.

The Menu:

Finca Lerida 655, Panama (Washed Gesha) $16: White Grapes, White Peach, Orange Blossom.

El Diviso, Colombia (Thermal Shock Anaerobic Natural, Ombligon) $11: Blueberry, Strawberry, Lychee.

Santa Barbara, Honduras (Anaerobic Washed, Gesha) $10: Yellow Peach, Lemon, Jasmine.

Floripondio, Bolivia (Lactic Honey, Pacamara) $9: Mango, Passionfruit.

They also offer seasonal espresso selections, like the Papua New Guinea Korofeigu Organic and the Ethiopia Worka Chelchele, dialed in daily for both black and white coffee drinkers.

The Bean: Santa Barbara (Honduras)

Varietal: Gesha

Process: Anaerobic Washed

Roast: Light (Filter)

Flavour Notes: Yellow Peach, Lemon, Jasmine

Temperature: 90 degrees Celsius

Retail Price: $10 (per cup on filter)

The Brew:

Method: Origami filter

What I tasted: The first thing that hit me was how incredibly clean the cup was. Anaerobic processing can sometimes be overpowering, but this was beautifully balanced.

The initial sip brought forward a distinct, sweet yellow peach note. As the coffee cooled slightly over the ice, a bright, refreshing lemon acidity cut through, finishing with a delicate jasmine floral note that lingered in the mouth. There was zero bitterness, zero harshness—just a textbook example of what a high-quality light-roast Gesha should taste like.

At $10 a cup, this isn't your everyday kopi. It's an experience. But if you are a home brewer looking to understand what a perfectly dialed-in, champion-level filter coffee tastes like, Oaks Coffee Roaster is a mandatory field trip.

The space is calm, the baristas are clearly passionate, and the coffee speaks for itself. I’ll definitely be back to try the Panama Finca Lerida on my next visit.

If you want to find out more or check out their beans, visit Oaks Coffee Roaster at 619H Bukit Timah Rd, or check our socials!