Pour.traits Coffee Roasters at Clarke Quay has focaccia sandwiches and mocktails
Focaccia sandwiches seem to be on an uptick these days, and consider me influenced because I’ve been on the lookout for good focaccia sandwiches, more than ever.
In the midst of my midnight TikTok scrolling, I chanced upon Pour.traits, a cafe with focaccia sandwiches that have been praised to the high heavens online. That only meant one thing — I had to try it for myself.
The space at Havelock 2 mall
Located within Havelock 2 mall, Pour.traits Coffee Roasters is situated between two very happening neighbourhoods, with Clarke Quay on one side and Chinatown the other.
Pictures on social media led me to believe the cafe was quite spacious, so imagine my surprise when I turned up, only to realise Pour.traits occupied a cosy corner unit by the mall’s entrance.
My eyes couldn’t help but settle on the lush emerald hue of this small space — a unique colour choice that feels deeply calming.
Seating space is limited, with only a few small tables and bar counter seats for dine-in customers.
The space was almost full when we visited on a weekday afternoon after lunchtime, so I’d imagine the cafe gets even more packed during peak hours.
Around early afternoon, there was a constant flow of office workers lining up — a good indicator that the coffee here is a reliable caffeine fix.
Focaccia sandwiches
Pour.traits Coffee Roasters might be better known for its line-up of speciality coffee and drinks, but its focaccia sandwiches are equally worth visiting this cafe for.
The focaccia here is on the pricier side, starting from S$15, but that includes a cup of hot black or white coffee. Quite a steal, if you ask me.
The standout here was the egg mayo and hash brown focaccia (S$16), a sandwich featuring egg mayo, crispy hashbrown, and Swiss cheese.
A notable sweetness lingered with every bite, which we later learnt from staff was thanks to the addition of hot honey within — something they settled on after multiple rounds of R&D.
I’ve never thought to put hot honey together with egg mayo before, but having tasted this mind-blowing combination here at Pour.traits, I’ll be sure to add it to my arsenal of sandwich recipes.
Looking to pack in more protein? The chicken focaccia (S$18) is another good option, starring black pepper chicken, rocket, greens, Swiss cheese, and chilli mayo.
By contrast with the egg mayo, this is a lot meatier, with the black pepper marinade coming in pretty strong.
If you’re looking for a sweet treat, Pour.traits has an earl grey Basque cheesecake (S$8.50) that’s won the hearts of many customers, as evidenced by how frequently it’s mentioned in Google reviews.
The cheesecake was lusciously rich, with the earl grey flavour came through satisfyingly strong. Texture-wise, the basque cheesecake here leans on the firmer side while maintaining a slight creaminess when you stick your fork in.
Coffee at Pour.traits
You’re invited to choose between Ethiopian and Kenyan espresso beans when placing your order — both favour a more acidic flavour profile, with the former being the milder of the two.
We had the Dirty (S$6.50) with Ethiopian beans, one of the drinks Pour.traits is better known for.
For the unfamiliar, dirty coffee (or dirty latte) sees an espresso shot — often a ristretto — is poured over milk that has been freeze-distilled, giving the milk a thicker and creamier quality. The resultant drink is a tiny, but mighty cuppa with a much higher espresso dose.
I love myself a good cup of Dirty, and Pour.traits’ didn’t disappoint. I liked that the milk here was properly thick and flavourful.
Personally, I’d prefer if it was made with darker roasted beans in order to really bring out that nutty and strong profile, but since the milk here was superb, it worked well enough.
Pour.traits also frequently rotates the filter beans on offer, so check with the barista if you’re keen on them.
Mocktails
Apart from the speciality coffee at Pour.traits, its range of mocktails caught our eye — it’s an uncommon offering for cafes to have. There are five flavours available, and each can be enjoyed with either a tea (S$10) or espresso base (S$12). We went with the tea-based Golden Haze and espresso-based Petal Pop for our mocktails of choice.
Featuring yuzu, mango, osmanthus, and lemongrass, the Golden Haze and the tea-base we chose proved to be a winning combination. The flavours worked well with the lightness of the tea base and made for a citrus-y, refreshing thirst-quencher.
The Petal Pop, on the other hand, surprised me with how it worked with its espresso undertones. It features quite a range of fruits — kiwi, lychee, rose, lemon, and strawberry, all of which I’d never think to have in my coffee — but the Petal Pop made it work somehow, resulting in a pleasantly tangy and bold beverage.
Whether you’re working in the area, looking for a new coffee nook to check out, or just keen on trying a new focaccia sandwich spot, Pour.traits is definitely worth a visit.
I know I’ll definitely be back for that glorious egg mayo and hashbrown focaccia!
Looking for more focaccia sandwich spots? Check out this spot with slow-cooked meat sandos at East Village, or this vibey new cafe at Farrer Park.
Chinatown
- Mon 8.30am - 6pm
- Tue 8.30am - 6pm
- Wed 8.30am - 6pm
- Thu 8.30am - 6pm
- Fri 8.30am - 6pm
- Sat 9.30am - 6pm
- Sun 9.30am - 6pm
Hannah is constantly on a hunt for good food and vibey cafes, with the occasional mild lactose intolerance being the only thing that interrupts her endeavours.
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