Where connections brew

New heritage gallery celebrates the evolution of local coffee shop culture

- Chin Soo Fang

Sock filters for straining coffee, ceramic cups and saucers with simple matching floral designs, and vintage soft drink glass bottles with nostalgic charm.

These are a few of the nearly 3,000 artifacts and photographs going on show in a new heritage gallery highlighting the evolution of Singapore's coffee shop culture.

The Singapore Coffee Shop Heritage Gallery is a gift from the Foochow Coffee Restaurant and Bar Merchants Association to the nation for its 60th birthday in 2025.

Built at a cost of about $600,000, the permanent gallery, which spans approximately 4,900 sq ft, will be free for the public to visit from Dec 2. It is located on Level 4 of the Foochow Building at 21 Tyrwhitt Road, and open from 10am to 5pm on weekdays.

The association welcomes contributions of coffee shop artifacts from organizations and the public.

When asked what the motivation behind the gallery was, Mr Hong Poh Hin, 76, chairman of the association, said: "Singapore's coffee shops have grown and thrived with the nation, and have become part of Singaporeans' lives."

The association, whose history can be traced back to 1921, has over 300 members, who own more than 400 coffee shops here.

Singapore's coffee shops began over a century ago during the British colonial period.