Greybox Coffee: Cafe brand from China opens first store at UE Square

Greybox Coffee, a well-known coffee chain from China, opened its first outlet in Singapore last month.

Conveniently located at UE Square, it serves coffee enthusiasts with a diverse menu designed to satisfy every coffee craving.

If you’ve been to the bustling CBDs of Beijing and Shanghai — the epitome of the intense competition in China’s coffee market — you might know that Greybox has established a strong foothold among coffee aficionados there, with its premium quality and diverse flavours.

A cup of coffee for everyone

Upon arriving at Greybox Coffee, we noticed it’s nestled in a cafe-dense area. Within just a few steps, there’s Dutch Colony Coffee, Starbucks, and Luckin Coffee. One wonders how this new cafe will carve out a place for itself here.

But browsing through Greybox’s menu, it quickly became clear Greybox’s reputation for thriving amidst fierce competition was not misplaced — the diversity of drinks is truly impressive. Beyond regular espresso variations, there is an array of options for cold brew, pour over, ice drip, and specialty coffees available in various blends.

So, whether you’re a coffee-casual or a discerning coffee expert, there’s a cup of coffee for you.

One of its specialty offerings, the dirty mocha (S$8), has already gained quite some traction on Instagram. This trendy beverage has grown in popularity because of how the cream cascades out of the glass in visually striking layers. If you take a big sip, you’ll be amazed by how the intense flavours of the coffee interplay with the velvety and luscious cream.

Greybox’s version looks more like a tiramisu dessert than it does a coffee, with generous portions of thick cream coated in cocoa dripping down the sides of the glass. The slightly savoury cream coats the tongue, before the robustness of the chocolatey coffee shines through. It is a well-balanced, albeit rich, drink that’s great for enjoying at a leisurely pace — and it comes with a spongy ladyfinger biscuit, too.

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The Planet latte (S$8) offers a sense of ritual. It comes deconstructed, in two parts: An espresso shot mixed with condensed milk and a glass of milk, with an icy sphere of cold brew coffee nestled within.

To drink it, pour the espresso-milk mixture over the ice and watch as the heat melts through the cold-brew cube, causing the drink to gradually shift from its original milky white to a deep chocolatey brown. Made from Yirgacheffe cold brew, the ice imparts fruity and chocolatey flavours as it melts and is perfect for iced-coffee lovers.

The coconut coffee (S$9) is also something of a surprise. Despite the seemingly innocuous coconut shell it was served in, the drink serves up quite the caffeine kick with its combination of Yirgacheffe cold brew and coconut water.

Coffee geeks may want to check out Greyboy’s range of blends, too. The popular Tokyo blend (drinks from S$4) is more full-bodied, with hints of nuts and dark chocolate, while the Australian blend (drinks from S$4) is lightly roasted with tangerine and cherry hints and ideal for those who prefer a slightly sour, fruity flavour. 

The Geisha blend (drinks from S$6), a premium arabica, is popular among coffee connoisseurs for its floral and fruity yet balanced flavour, thanks to its washed processing method and mix with Ethiopian beans.

Greybox Coffee says it only sources the beans from the best growers of the world to ensure the quality and taste. This year, its Ethiopian beans won first place in the washed beans category at the African Taste of Harvest (TOH), one of the most prestigious coffee cupping competitions in the world.

You can try it for yourself as a pour over or cold brew (both S$9).

Stay tuned for exciting menu additions and more

Besides your cup of joe, you can enjoy a variety of baked goods and cakes, including canneles (S$4.50) and tiramisu (S$11). The team is also updating their meal menu, with plans to introduce healthy yoghurt and waffles in the coming weeks.

HungryGoWhere understands the brand is already looking to expand the diverse menu even further and bring in more specialty coffee flavours.

We also hear that the brand is set to open its second outlet around October, with a third one in the pipeline. While exact locations are yet to be revealed, these new outlets are expected to be near art centres and galleries, to attract cultural enthusiasts and the creative community.

This was a hosted tasting.

The caffeine cravings are calling? Do check out June Coffee and the new Toast Box concept store at Takashimaya.

Do explore the GrabFood Dine Out service for awesome deals.

You can also book a ride to enjoy Greybox Coffee’s specialty flavours.