Kyuukei Coffee Review: Popular Japanese Cafe In A Heritage Building At Maxwell

Kyuukei Coffee has filter coffee and matcha lattes at KADA

If you’ve been to KADA in Maxwell, you’ll know it’s become quite the popular destination for cafe hoppers. I’m there regularly and have been a fan of their tenants, including Alani and Freshio Gelato. Kyuukei Coffee was one I had on my to-visit list, but the crowds had always put me off.

I know that’s ironic, considering the name Kyuukei translates to “rest” or “break” in Japanese—a cafe meant for slowing down, yet always packed to the brim. I had been to their more low-key Alexandra outlet on busy weekends before, but this time, I decided to visit their CBD cafe on a weekday to give myself a chance at actually sitting down and enjoying a cuppa in peace. 

Drinks at Kyuukei Coffee

The menu features coffee and matcha, alongside a selection of toasties, pastries, and tarts. Since we were here for a caffeine fix, we went ahead and ordered four drinks off their QR code menu.

We started with the Iced Long Black ($6.50), made with Kyuukei’s in-house Akatsuki blend. Featuring a combination of Tanzanian and Indonesian beans, the name “Akatsuki” means “dawn” in Japanese, a fitting name for a morning coffee—and a fun nod for any Naruto fans who catch the reference.

The blend carried notes of spiced chocolate, red cherries, cranberries, and raisins. As someone who doesn’t usually drink black coffee, I found this to be an easy drink. It was light-bodied and approachable, without any of that lingering bitterness I’d usually avoid.

What I appreciated most was how consistent the coffee stayed as the ice melted; the berry flavours didn’t fade or get watered down, and if anything, the finish got more interesting the further I got into the cup, opening up gradually and leaving a clean, slightly sweet aftertaste.

For something more familiar, I got the Iced Latte ($7.80), featuring the same Akatsuki blend, but served with regular milk. The espresso fared well with dairy, the milk rounding out the coffee’s flavour without masking it, while keeping things smooth without being overly cloying.

The fruity, berry-forward notes from the blend still came through, just softer and more mellow than in the long black, with the spiced chocolate notes coming through when paired with milk. I really enjoyed this iced white and found it to be a reliable cup of coffee.

Kyuukei is also famed for their filter coffees, so I had to get one. I settled for the Iced Ethiopia Bona Zuira ($10), and it turned out to be the most interesting cup of our visit.

Brewed as a pour-over from high-altitude Ethiopian beans, it tasted more like a floral fruit tea, with violet and black tea notes. The first sip was crisp and bright, with a sharp blackcurrant tartness that gave it a real backbone.

As I worked through the cup, the sweetness gradually opened up, and I started picking up juicy peach and tart red apple notes coming through with each sip. If you’re the type who thinks coffee has to taste like coffee, this might throw you off, but if you’re open to something a little different, it’s well worth the $10.

Being a matcha fan, I couldn’t help but order the Wazakura Matcha Latte ($9), unsweetened. The beverage uses ceremonial-grade matcha, so I had high expectations for it. The matcha came through as umami and smooth, with a hint of natural sweetness and no dull bitterness—which is always a good sign.

That said, it fell a little short on texture. The hallmark of a good matcha latte is the silky layer of microfoam, and that was noticeably absent here. Unfortunately, the drink came across as thinner and less creamy than I’d have liked. It’s still an enjoyable cup, and arguably more approachable for those newer to matcha, but if you’re used to a fuller-bodied matcha latte, you might find yourself wanting a little more.

Ambience at Kyuukei Coffee

Kyuukei Coffee’s Maxwell cafe is tucked within the ground floor of KADA, a creative lifestyle hub converted from the 101-year-old former St Andrew’s Mission Hospital. The cafe features high ceilings and wooden louvred doors, alongside more contemporary finishes: concrete walls, dark green subway tiles, and exposed red piping.

A curved, kidney-shaped white counter sits at the centre of the space with wooden chairs around it, giving the layout a homey feel. Outside, folding chairs stamped with Kyuukei’s cat logo line the corridor, making for a pleasant spot to sip your coffee if the indoor seats are taken.

The cafe can get hectic during peak hours, so a weekday visit gives you the best chance of settling in without the crowd.

Kyuukei Coffee is a three-minute walk from Maxwell MRT Station. 

Kyuukei Coffee – Eatbook review

After this visit, I finally get the hype. Kyuukei takes their coffee seriously, but doesn’t make it feel intimidating, and there’s something on the menu for seasoned coffee drinkers and casual cafe-goers alike. The space is calm and well-considered, and sometimes that’s all you really need for a good break. I’ll be back again soon, though I’ll be sticking to weekday visits for now.

If you’re looking for more good matcha lattes, read our Market At Maxwell feature. If cafes aren’t really your thing, we’ve also got a Maxwell Food Centre food guide for all your hawker needs.

Address: 5 Kadayanallur Street, KADA, #01-04, Singapore 069183
Opening Hours: Daily 8am to 5pm
Tel: 8380 6530
Website
Kyuukei Coffee is not halal-certified. 

Photos taken by Rishav Chakraverty.
This was an independent review by Eatbook.sg