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Singapore · Singapore

Papa Palheta

Since 2009 · Leon Foo

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Overview

Leon Foo, an NTU equity-research alum who turned to coffee during the 2008 financial crisis, founded Papa Palheta in Bukit Timah in 2009 as a roastery, wholesale and education business. The 'breakthrough' came in August 2012 when he reopened the disused 1950 Keat Seng Metals shop on Tyrwhitt Road as Chye Seng Huat Hardware — keeping the old neon sign, building Singapore's first 360° teardrop island bar, and pairing the cafe with a roastery, workshop and tasting Annex. Papa Palheta rebranded as PPP Coffee on its 10th anniversary; alumni include Yardstick Coffee Manila co-founder Andre Chanco, and Foo now also runs Morning, an IoT specialty-capsule machine startup.

Known for

  • Pioneer of Singapore's third-wave specialty coffee scene
  • Chye Seng Huat Hardware — Singapore's first 360° island coffee bar
  • Multi-vertical model: roastery, wholesale, education, equipment distribution (Stellar-M)
  • 'Must. Drink. Coffee.' subscription program
  • Spawn brand for regional specialty operators (Yardstick Manila, Pulp KL)

Why it matters

Papa Palheta / CSHH did the unglamorous integration work — wholesale, equipment distribution, training and a flagship cafe destination — that turned Singapore from instant-coffee territory into a serious regional specialty market, and its alumni network now anchors specialty across Southeast Asia.

Production

destoning
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head roaster
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color sorting
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roaster machine
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filter equipment
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cupping frequency
daily team cuppings
roastery location
Chye Seng Huat Hardware, 150 Tyrwhitt Road, Singapore
espresso equipment
Synesso (distributed via Stellar-M)
annual volume tonnes
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Café

150 Tyrwhitt Road, Singapore 207563

Recognitions

  • Pioneer of Singapore third-wave specialty coffee
  • Chye Seng Huat Hardware — landmark Singapore destination cafe

Sources

More roasters