āI would say Iām reasonably serious,ā smiles Bevelyn Tan, when asked about how her personality plays a role in running a cafe. The co-founder of Ark Coffee tells us that having worked as a lawyer for some years, she needed to carry herself in a āproperā manner in front of a judge. āI also look younger than my age and am smaller in stature ā these required me to learn to carry myself a certain way in the industry.ā Top that with a penchant for organisation, details, as well as making numbers tally, and you have a solid foundation for running a handcrafted coffee and cold brew takeaway + delivery bar in Singapore.
āI call that part of her āLawyer Bev,ā jokes Beatrice Wee, the other half of Ark Coffee. Beatrice further explains that her business partner used to be reasonably proper in blouses and heels. āNow, she wears shorts and singlets to work, yells āKopi-Oā and argues with me loudly for fun. Iām not organised, structured or detailed ā Iām kind of rash and decisive,ā laughs Beatrice.
āHowever,ā Bevelyn promptly interjects, āBeatrice is the one that makes the other things happen lah.ā
This is How The Co-Founders Of Ark Coffee Singapore Built A Great Coffee Experience For All
What led to the start and opening of Ark Coffee in Singapore?
Beatrice: āWhat started off as a thought, evolved into discussions between Bev and I about how specialty coffee has this āatasā (luxurious) stereotype, and I mean like in many other things in society, this was just another thing that only certain demographics could enjoy… Why did it have to be that way? Coffee is good, coffee is enjoyable, coffee is for everyone! This sparked the idea of us starting a business to do just that.ā
What is the story behind the name of the company?
Beatrice: We wanted Ark Coffee to be a place where people could gather and feel safe, welcomed to be themselves whoever they are, wherever they came from or whatever their backgrounds, enjoying community, conversations and coffee. The Ark is a symbol of many coming together into a space, spending time in safety and refuge. Thus, our name.
What did you do to stay true to your business proposition and above your competitors?
Bevelyn: āItās important to us for the business to be sustainable and make money to do whatever we want to do. But I think people really matter to us. Every teammate, customer, supplier, and people we work with at S17 kitchen… We want to be a team of reputable coffee brewers in Singapore that is involved in each othersā lives, outside of work. Weāre still in touch with almost everyone that has come through the team so far.ā
Beatrice: āOur business is really young, but from the start, Bev and I decided that in all the decisions that we make we would prioritize people.ā
Must Try Food & Coffee Recommendations in Ark Coffee Singapore
Please share top Ark Coffee bestsellers. Why are these food and drinks so special?
Beatrice: āWhen I was in Perth with a friend in 2016, we had one jaffle meal. I didnāt know what a jaffle was until I received my food and was like, āWe used to have this!ā I never forgot it. When Bev and I were working on our menu, we were looking for something yummy and fun, yet down to earth with a comforting element. And the emotions from having that jaffle in Perth came back to me.ā
Bevelyn: āThe is a pressed and toasted sandwich, which the Aussies call the ājaffle.ā It is basically the nostalgic ātoastieā that many Singaporean kids would have had ā think ham and cheese between two slices of bread, toasted in a sandwich maker. A familiarity from the past, with an interesting twist!Ā
Our most popular jaffles in Ark Coffee Singapore at the moment are:
āMasala tak Salahā (Masala chicken jaffle)
āThe Fun Guyā (Garlic Mushroom jaffle)
āFowl Playā (Pesto chicken jaffle)ā
Beatrice: Drinks and pastries are also top in Ark Coffee Singapore. We do both traditional coffee and specialty coffee, and bake our own pastries and desserts. We enjoy having fun simple ingredients and whateverās available. Recently we came up with a special drink called āLa Tehā pun on Latte. Itās ātehā with ākopiā jelly.Ā
What are the foundersā top favourits in Ark Coffee Singapore?
Beatrice: My favourite is the āEggspodeā jaffle. Itās a funny story; I actually had a dream of the flavours of eggs ā salted egg and century egg ā coming together in a jaffle. Itās like the three egg spinach Chinese dish! But smashed with mayonnaise and herbs. When I woke up my brain āeggsplodedā – and I knew I needed to try make it.Ā
Bevelyn: Curry fries with our homemade garlic aioli! Everyone whoās tried it loves our curry fries. Fries coated in our secret curry spice mix topped with fried curry leaves, served with garlic aioli. I have been eating so many fries since we started, and I cannot get enough of our aioli, hahaha. We have older customers who speak only dialect, eat our fries and ask for more of the āwhite white thingā or āwhite sauceā, referring to the aioli.Ā
Visit Ark Coffee Singapore for hearty cafĆ© food, whether itās for brunch, lunch or tea time! Top it off with their delicious coffees and cold brew that will not disappoint.Ā
Ark Coffee SingaporeĀ
57 Lengkok Bahru,
#01-489,
Singapore 151057
You can also visit HERE and have Ark Coffeeās cafĆ© food and coffee delivered to your Singapore address.Ā