A new micro-coffee roaster perched on Joo Chiat Road is award-winning and fresh onto the scene. It has recently expanded into offering food and has an admirable attitude to offering minimal single-use plastic in store.
Environmental Impact 🌏
Single-use Plastic
No plastic cutlery in sight and they offer no plastic bags as standard. Although, as we consistently find – especially in Coffee shops – plastic is still a big problem for takeaways and no one seems to have found a viable alternative. Homeground offers single-use plastic cups for its takeaway beverages.
If you purchase a tin of their Coffee Beans, and then bring the container back to the store, you can get a $1 discount on your next purchase which is a great incentive for zero waste Homeground coffee.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆ 4/5
Vegetarian & Vegan Food
Homeground have teamed up with local Mexican-inspired ‘Das a Wrap’ who offer a small number of options with plenty for Vegetarians and Vegans. Their Vegan Burr is a real triumph and recommended.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆ 4/5
Organic Food
Homeground’s local ‘Vanta’ House Espresso Blend is made from 50% Red Catuaí coffee (ecoagricola Serra Do Cabral, Brazil) which although not stated as being organic, is certainly more sustainable than many other beans.
The cafe did provide Cakes from The Bakery by Woodlands Sourdough which previously use organic ingredients before it closed its doors late last year, but their food does not appear to use Organic produce. There does seem to be a genuine attempt to source their beans from more responsible sources.
⭐️⭐️⭐️☆☆ 3/5
Local Produce
Homeground’s food offerings are certainly sold by a local outfit but again, it’s unclear where the ingredients are sourced from.
Their cakes which are occasionally sold in conjunction with some of their newer, special blends are sourced from various local establishments including The Bakery by Woodlands Sourdough and Two Men Bagels.
⭐️⭐️⭐️☆☆ 3/5
Social Impact 😇
The Cafe is particular good at supporting the local Art community. When we visited, there were some wonderful displays and murals which could be purchased in store by Artist Ly Leow.
They also offer Brewery and Sensory classes to help spread the joy of coffee across Singapore. Singapore National Brewers Cup 2019 Champion, Elysia Tan is particularly good at sharing her love for Coffee.
⭐️⭐️⭐️☆☆ 3/5
Conclusion
This cafe is a wonderful addition to the Singapore Coffee scene and is a great place to experience some unique flavours in a unique corner of Singapore’s East Coast.
There have been some great starts made to their single-use plastic policies – particularly in the lack of plastic cutlery, takeaway bags and zero waste incentives. We’d like to see some more emphasis put on their locally sourced produce and more information on where they source their coffee. We look forward to seeing this venue grow and develop.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️☆ 4/5
Ecosystem 