Singapore coffee brand Alchemist debuts 2 outlets in Japan, marking first overseas venture

Many Singapore-founded brands and companies have made a name for themselves overseas, and it seems coffee specialist Alchemist could be joining that list.

The popular homegrown brand, which has several cafes in Singapore and is known for its minimalist aesthetic, has embarked on its first overseas venture with the opening of two outlets in Tokyo, it announced today (July 10).

The new outlets, which debuted in late June, are located in the neighbourhoods of Aoyama and Asakusa, and serve more than 10 types of coffee, the brand shared. 

According to the brand, all coffee beans will be roasted in Singapore and the Tokyo outlets will also adopt Alchemist's philosophy of making quality coffee approachable and accessible for everyone.

Both outlets have two floors, with the Aoyama outlet having a seating capacity of approximately 30 seats and the Asakusa outlet larger at about 70. 

Speaking on why he chose to venture out into Japan, Will Leow, founder of Alchemist, stated in a press release that they've always admired Japan's "deep-rooted coffee culture and attention to detail". 

"Our mission has always been to create a moment of connection over coffee. Expanding into Tokyo felt like a natural step forward for us, and we're humbled by the warm reception from the local community. We are excited to share our vision with coffee lovers in Japan," he said. 

Alchemist has plans to open 10 outlets across Tokyo by end 2028. 

For those who aren't familiar, Alchemist is a Singapore coffee brand founded in 2016 and currently has 11 locations islandwide. 

And like the new Tokyo outlets, each store in Singapore is also uniquely designed. 

There, in-season beans are roasted in small batches using methods adapted to each variant's characteristics and conditions, and every outlet consistently offers more than 10 coffee varieties. 

carol.ong@asiaone.com

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