Log in to your Instagram account, and you will be flooded with pictures taken at cafés. You’ll notice your café enthusiast friends eagerly scouting for such coffeehouses every weekend, which probably feeds to the sudden boom of new ones sprouting out every other day.

The hipster café-hopping craze has taken over club-hopping as the new ‘in’ thing to do. The café scene has been growing rapidly in the last few years, following the rise of specialty coffee-lovers who appreciate a good cup of coffee. In this social media age, the Instagram-worthy atmosphere and food styling play a huge part in deciding where to spend a lazy afternoon as well.

“I love cafés that serve all-day breakfast. It's comfort food, and the whole idea of having brunch in an Asian country is so cosmopolitan,” said Priscilla Buk, 26.

So what is it about cafés that attracts people to visit?

“Café owners must understand that customers are there for the ambience and value-for-money food. It shouldn’t be the fact that it’s a café, so they charge me so much more. It’s also important that they have a free wireless connection. It’s a way of telling me that the café appreciates its customers and is not stingy with such things. I also love it when the staff recognizes me and remembers my order,” expressed Chua Yan Ni, 20.

While what differentiates each café from another may be the ambience, it doesn’t mean that the food doesn’t matter. There is still a certain standard or quality of food which customers expect, and this, of course, has to be reasonably priced. After all, they do expect to get their money’s worth.

Damien Wong, 19, agrees. “It doesn’t matter how big the café is. The food must be delectable and reasonably priced for a brunch or dinner meal to keep me going back for more.”

With so much buzz surrounding quality coffee, many cap the maximum price they are willing to pay for a cup at $10. Nevertheless, there is still a minority who thinks otherwise. “I think it depends. If the coffee served has a unique selling point like pop-up 3D art, for example, I wouldn’t mind paying slightly more for it,” said Chan Yun Xin, 21.

Cafés may specialise in specific desserts or beverages, and these are also important considerations for café-goers. It might even be the highlight of the café, the selling point that keeps on attracting customers.

Many also have various deciding factors that they rank in importance when deciding on a café to visit.

Says Don Koh, 22: “Firstly, I look at the ambience. It highly affects whether I’ll enjoy my visit to the cafe or not. After that is the food and coffee. I think both food and coffee come into place together, but if I really have to rank one, it will be food, then coffee after. That’s because I'm more of a food person! Lastly, the distance to the MRT. This would definitely be last. I would visit a cafe even if it's located at Tuas!”

Interviewees

Name: Damien Wong Wai Loon

Age: 19

Which café do you like going to and why?

Lolas Café. The price of the food on the menu is reasonable, being NETT Price, and it is also a short walking distance from Kovan MRT Station. Despite the cafe being a little small, the food is generally good, and I highly recommend the Honey Paprika Crispy Wings! The cafe is also an ideal place for brunch and dinner.

How much would you pay for a cup of coffee?

$8.50

Rank of importance when visiting a café:

Distance to MRT > Food > Coffee > Ambience

Name: Chua Yanni

Age: 20

Which café do you like going to and why?

I enjoy visiting cafes that have free wireless connection, that is very important. It’s also a way of telling me that the owner is not stingy with such things; in a way, they are appreciating their customers. The café must serve value-for-money food. It shouldn’t be the fact that it’s a café, so it charges me so much more. The owner must understand that the customers visiting the café are really there for the good food. I would suggest The Coffee Daily as one of my favourite go-to cafes. Although I didn’t visit the café often, however, the service staff there could recognize me. I like the white and bright atmosphere there, it’s pleasant for me. Despite the food not being very filling, in my opinion, they are one of those cafes that are very value-for-money.

How much would you pay for a cup of coffee?

I would pay between $5 to $6.50 at maximum. I’m not that much of a coffee lover, but a tea person. Furthermore, when it comes to coffee, I can’t take coffee or milk that’s too strong for my weak stomach.

Rank of importance of café:

Ambience > Distance to MRT > Food > Coffee

Name: Chan Yun Xin

Age: 21

Which café do you like going to and why?

I don’t have a particular café that I visit on a regular basis. I usually visit only when the food is nice and the ambience is good, especially when there are fewer people, so I can enjoy and stay there longer. I usually search for recommendations on the Internet for information about cafes. I also seek recommendations from my friends.

How much would you pay for a cup of coffee?

Less than $10? But it also depends on whether there is coffee with a unique selling point, like pop-up 3D art, I wouldn’t mind paying slightly more.

Rank of importance of café:

Food > Ambience > Coffee > Distance to MRT

Name: Don Koh Wei Liang

Age: 22

Which café do you like going to and why?

I enjoy going to cafés that are unique in the sense that they're not the kind of typical café that you will always see. I like visiting cafés that have a unique selling point that is worth the visit. Be it food, ambience, or anything that is special.

How much would you pay for a cup of coffee?

Anything that is not more than $10.

Rank of importance of café:

1) Ambience. It highly affects whether I’ll enjoy my visit to the cafe or not.

2) Food. I think both food and coffee come into place together, but if I really have to rank one, it will be food, then coffee after. Because I'm more of a food person. Haha!

3) Coffee.

4) Distance to MRT. This would definitely be last. I would visit a cafe even if it's located at Tuas!

Name: Priscilla Buk

Age: 26

Which café do you like going to and why?

I love cafes that serve all-day breakfast. It's comfort food, and the whole idea of having brunch in an Asian country is so cosmopolitan.

How much would you pay for a cup of coffee?

$6 for a quality cup of coffee.

Rank of importance of café:

Food > Ambience > Distance to MRT > Coffee (Because I don’t drink coffee)

This article was written for Barcode Magazine.