Second Visit to COSANS Coffee (Bloggers Night)

If you were wondering what that "private event" at COSANS Coffee was, herein lies your answer.

Last Saturday, I attended my first ever bloggers event at COSANS Coffee, making this trip my second. Yes, we were the reason you couldn't have your coffee between 6.00 p.m. - 10.00 p.m. that one fine day. Feeling over the moon after receiving a personal invitation from Matthew, the CEO himself, I decided to put all my fears aside and attended the event by myself. Initially, I was allowed to bring a friend along but coffee enthusiasts rarely exist in my social circles for some reason and what more to look for one who is free and willing to be in a sea of bloggers.

To those who are particularly particular, I am aware of the super fine, annoying white line in nearly every picture. That major scratch somehow got onto my lens protector. I don't use Photoshop and I'm not the type who's patient enough (yet) to sit down and learn the ropes of it so please bear with me.

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The first and most inviting thing I saw upon arrival was their display of food simply because I was hungry.

I noticed the arranged order- (from the top) salads for entrée, sandwiches for the main and the ever-so-sinful cakes for dessert. 

Sandwiches, salads and soups are on the board!

The cafe was still fairly empty at 7-ish so I had some time to go around and snap pictures of the setting.

And finally, the thing that attracts Malaysians of all ages, genders and races...

... a bag of freebies each which comprised the following:

• A huge handful of one of the two house blends (I got my preferred blend - Carreau!)
• Two packets of artisan tea from Gryphon - Hanami (blend #152) which is Japanese sencha with cherry blossoms and lemon ginger mint (blend #212)
• Two packets of Dammann Fréres tea - Chamomile and black tea
• A name card with a number on it for the lucky draw

Also not to mention the strong, compelling aroma of coffee every time you were to open the bag.

Cappuccino made with the Carreau House Blend

My first cappuccino at COSANS Coffee was made with the Equarre House Blend which was rather bitter for me despite having a strong body. This time round, I tried it with the Carreau House Blend as recommended by Matthew. It was slightly fruitier, sweeter and definitely less bitter compared to the first blend. Being a satisfied coffee lover, I gave my compliments to the barista while I was halfway through my drink.

Oreo Milkshake which lacked a fair bit of Oreos. Milkshakes aren't my cup of tea but this is pretty good for one.

Ice Blended Chocolate Frappe

My table was served two types of sandwiches for tasting:

Asianese Roasted Chicken Sandwich

I quite like it for its oriental flavour because of the coriander. They use chicken thigh which explains why the meat is so tender. 

Smoked Duckling Sandwich

I love duck. Absolutely love duck! My only disappointment in this sandwich is the lack of the smoked duckling as the other ingredients i.e. the greens overpower its taste. The bread is particularly dry for this sandwich because it doesn't have much sauce in it compared to the former. If it weren't for those concerns, this would've been an excellent sandwich.

A coffee showcase was then held for us bloggers to get to know more about coffee making. 

Each stage of coffee-making determines how good or bad your coffee turns out to be. Even from the part where you grind the beans.

Little cups were passed around as we smell the coffee to get a gist of what a nutty and fruity coffee smell like.

Another end product: iced black coffee

Well, I couldn't resist arranging them.

I was really fascinated by this drip!

After the showcase, we settled for more varieties of drinks and went with their signature tea - jasmine tea scented with rose oil giving off the sensual aroma of a rose bouquet. Highly recommended not only for tea lovers but also those who need a drink for relaxation.

On top of all the food and beverages I have shared here, we bloggers could order anything on the menu on the house just for that evening.

A few of the many bloggers I had the privilege to meet.
This is the only decent picture I dare post up for now. Shall probably wait for others to be shared soon!

And then there's me...

Click HERE to read about my first trip to COSANS Coffee.

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If you're a blogger and would like to collaborate with me, don't be afraid to drop me an email so that we can work something out. 

Looking forward to meeting more coffee enthusiasts and brunch lovers this year!

"I don't consume coffee. Coffee consumes me."

COSANS Coffee @ SS15, Subang Jaya

COSANS Coffee, opened on the 16th January, is the latest addition to the coffee industry in SS15. They serve "third wave coffee" where they consider coffee as an artisanal foodstuff, like wine, rather than a commodity (source). In other words, they produce gourmet coffee similar to other familiar places like Artisan Roast, CoffeeSociété, etc.

Setting

Finally, a place with comfy chairs.

It's rather typical, the interior design. But they have plenty of comfortable chairs to further enhance the coffee experience.

Testing out some photo editing stuffs. Still a noobie at this and this is not even Photoshop.

What went into our tummies

Piccolo Latte [RM10.00]

Cappuccino [RM11.00 - Regular]

Americano [RM9.90]

Tiramisu [RM12.90]

The prices are a little steep but that's because their coffee is individually handcrafted to perfection. If the cake looks somewhat familiar to you, you should know that their supplier is precisely the same one that supplies the cakes at Alexis.

My verdict on the coffee: They used the Equarre House Blend, which is towards the bitter side, for my cappuccino. I'm not really into the bitter types so I didn't particularly like mine. The next time I come, I'll be going for the Carreau House Blend which has a more fruity aroma. As a cappuccino by itself, I have no complains. For more information about their beans, click here.

From what I learnt today, unlike other artisan coffee places, COSANS Coffee cares about social responsibility and they have a burning passion to give back to society. It is indeed heartwarming to know that some places in the coffee industry have missions aside from the one and only purpose to serve the more privileged and fortunate with the perfect coffee and having the story end there. Check out their social care partners here!

I'll be making another trip to this place over the weekend so expect another blog post soon-ish! 

Information

Address: 30 (Ground Floor), Jalan SS15/4, 47500 Subang Jaya, Selangor.

Operating days: Every day

Operating hours: 10.00 a.m. - 12.00 a.m. (Sundays - Thursdays) and 10.00 a.m. - 2.00 a.m. (Fridays & Saturdays) - edited

Contact no.: +60356129600

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Coffee Etc @ Oasis Square, Ara Damansara

Oh my, just look at the overwhelming number of new coffee places popping up these couple of days. 

Here's one at Oasis Square. My family and I were meant to head to Mr. & Ms. Cafe this morning but they were still in the midst of opening at 9.30 a.m. Perhaps another time.

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Setting

Brick walls. Love.

Nothing particularly fascinating except for their peculiar interest in monkeys. Aside from wanting you to "swing" by, I do wonder why monkeys.

This is perhaps an appropriate location for meetings and what not as it is relatively quiet and can accommodate big parties.

Menu

They have an all-day breakfast menu available till dinner time at 7.00 p.m.

What went into our tummies

Egg Benedict [RM6.90]

The Big Three with a Jumbo Chicken Sausage & Omelette with Cheese [RM21.90]

Croissant Sandwich with Chicken Ham & Egg [RM17.80]

The Egg Benedict is of average quality and RM6.90 for that serving seems decent. However, the croissant and big breakfast are not worth their respective prices. Nothing to hype about, really.

Cappuccino [RM10.90] 

Without much expectation put into this, just like the food, it is just an average cuppa.

Apparently, their Belgian waffles are must-tries and they claim to use an original Belgian recipe but I am personally more of a "let's go for A&W waffles and root beer floats" kind of person.


Coffee Etc is a great place to chill and hang out at but don't put your hopes up on their F&B.

Information

Address: EG-08, Block E, Oasis Square, 2A, Jalan PJU 1A/7A, Ara Damansara, 47301 Petaling Jaya.

Operating days: Mondays - Saturdays

WiFi: Available (password printed at the end of your receipt)

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p.s. I apologize for that really fine, white line in most of my pictures. Don't worry, my camera lens is perfectly fine. The protector got scratched somehow and I really gotta fix that soon.

The Good Batch @ Damansara Uptown

Out of obligation as a lover of brunches, I checked out this place today. Yes, Damansara Uptown on a weekend and yes, during the lunch hour. The things we foodies would do for food can be viewed as simply insane in the eyes of society - but we still do it anyway in the name of food.

Setting

My two good friends and I reached the restaurant only to be greeted by a small crowd of people by the door eagerly waiting to be seated. We then joined in the waiting list of 5 names before ours.

The waiting area. This was taken after our meal which explains the absence of people.

The first thing you might want do if there is a crowd outside upon your arrival is to scribble your name down on the waiting list. During your period of wait, you can browse through their menu and decide on what you wish to order. However, if you're really hungry and are easily intrigued by food in the form of words like I am, I suggest you pass that option. 

Tables are seated according to the number of people you have with you so if your party is big, you'll most likely have to wait longer. My party of three waited half an hour just so you know. 

Decent setting which could fit quite a number of people.

I quite like this deco by the door. It adds a touch of home to the place.

And they have a proper bar with bar stools!

Wall deco of gears adding some modernity to the setting I feel.

What went into our tummies

Cappuccino [RM8.50]

Not the best I've had (in Malaysia, that is - before you start judging). It has something to do with the coffee and milk in terms of balance in flavour, nothing with regards to its presentation or the way it turned out as a cappuccino.

They say you need not have a hangover to consume this beauty:

Hangover Mess [RM20.90]

"Messy. Absolutely messy." Those were the first few words that came to mind the moment two plates of these were set on the table. 

Of corned beef mixed with pan-fried potatoes and diced capsicums topped with two sunny side-ups messily drizzled with herb-infused hollandaise sauce served with lightly toasted bread, there was much talk about this particular dish especially on Foursquare. I really love the beef and capsicums but thought the potatoes could've been a bit more fried. The hollandaise sauce made the dish look messy which definitely fits its name. I was not full up to the brim as the portion was just nice for me (I'm quite a big eater if you must know).

I do recommend giving this a shot if you're a fan of corned beef and pan-fried potatoes. 


If you're really simple or if you're feeling ordinary...

The "Ang Moh" [RM25.90]

... try this. Brilliant name for a big brekkie! There's your usual scrambled eggs, streaky beef bacon, grilled chicken sausage, ripened cherry tomatoes, a baked portobello mushroom, pan-fried potatoes and baked beans served with lightly toasted bread. Nothing out of the ordinary hence making this dish turning out to be just okay - according to my friend who had it.

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You probably can tell from the opening paragraph that parking is horrid on weekends but feel free to try your luck like I did. I was already prepared to make a couple of rounds of bore but managed to find a lot within the first rounding (:

Information

Address: 53, Jalan SS21/1A, Damansara Upton, 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor.

Operating hours: 11.00 a.m. - 12.00 a.m. (Tuesdays - Thursdays), 11.00a.m. - 1.00a.m. (Fridays - Saturdays), 10.00 a.m. - 11.00 p.m. (Sundays & Public Holidays)

Contact no.: +60377332303

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