JASON AND NIGEL SOON
Founder and CEO, and brand partnerships and growth manager, respectively, of Kim Guan Guan Coffee
For Jason Soon, starting Kim Guan Guan Coffee (KGG) was a road riddled with obstacles. In 1988, with no knowledge about coffee, he started the business with a partner who left after just two years. From there, it was an uphill battle to earn his customers' trust, learn the ins-and-outs about coffee roasting and eventually introduce automation into the process. Today, KGG is a household name, supplying ground coffee powder made from Robusta and Columbian beans to coffee shops and chains across the island. Jason (J) and his son, Nigel (N) also run Kim's Duet, their recently rebranded B2C brand of take-home, local steep coffee bags available online and at selected retail stores.
How do you roast your beans?
J: Roasting is an art. You're essentially trying to bake the coffee without boiling the surface of the beans. After baking, we add margarine and sugar. The most tedious part is the caramelising. Western coffee only needs one roast and that might take about 12 minutes. But ours need about 35 minutes. When we caramelise the beans with the sugar, the timing has to be accurate or the sugar will turn bitter or sour. If that happens, the blend won't give you the taste of Singapore kopi.
We also need to be mindful of the temperature during roasting and caramelising. The beans are then quickly separated while hot to prevent them from hardening and clumping together.
What makes a good cup of kopi?
J: Aside from roasting, a good cup of kopi is in how you brew it. We tell our clients how much water is needed for one bag of coffee. I also tell them to let the coffee sit for three to four minutes before they hand-pull.
How would you describe Singapore's coffee culture?
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة May 2023 من Prestige Singapore.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة May 2023 من Prestige Singapore.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
GLAMOUR AND BEYOND
PRESTIGE'S BEYOND THE HORIZON BALL PULLS OUT ALL THE STOPS.
RACING BULL
Lamborghini's breakthrough plug-in hybrid, the Revuelto, might be the supercar it needs to pull ahead in the electrification space race.
SYMPHONY OF THE SENSES
Prestige sits down with world-class pianist and Rolex Testimonee HÉLÈNE GRIMAUD as she shares her journey through sound and silence.
Tapestry of the Heart
Jaipur Rugs, which recently launched in Singapore, is one of India's largest manufacturers of hand-knotted rugs. Its secret commitment to a social mission of equality and empathy.
FJORDS, FREEDOM AND FINE FOOD
Oceania Cruises' Riviera will make its debut voyage to Alaska in 2025, bringing guests deep into the wilderness of America's northernmost state while delivering The Finest Cuisine at Sea.
LESSONS FROM THE LONG ROAD
An extended cruise from Vancouver to Tokyo proves that to go further and deeper, you sometimes have to slow down.
Checks and Balance
Louis Vuitton's latest fine jewellery range, Le Damier de Louis Vuitton, is inspired by the house's Damier check. Artistic director for watches and jewellery FRANCESCA AMFITHEATROF takes us through the process.
IN DAZZLING FORM
Powered by a new movement, the Asia Pacific exclusive editions of the Round Skeleton Baguette 31 editions by Franck Muller sparkle with baguette-cut diamonds or coloured precious gemstones.
A TIME FOR SQUARE
In October, Patek Philippe unveiled its first wholly new collection of timepieces in 25 years. Prestige Singapore was among the first in the world to see the Cubitus trio of timepieces and find out how they were created.
STILL THE ONE
With a distinctive design including an off-centre dial, outsize date and an asymmetrical layout, the Lange 1 stood out from the horological pack when it was launched in 1994. It continues to do so even today, three decades on.
