Getting to know Leon Lee, from Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee.
What's the story behind Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee and how did it all start?
Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee (THSC) is the name that was adopted from our co-founder Jacob Tan's father, Tan Tiong Hoe. Together with Juliana in 2014, THSC was born as a fresh venture that carries on Mr Tan Tiong Hoe's legacy to produce good quality coffee.
Aligned with the rise of the third wave coffee movement, we aim to bridge the gap between commercial and specialty coffee drinkers, with a wide range of coffee origins that can suit coffee drinkers' preferences.
Can you share more about your approach to sourcing and roasting coffee?
With the belief that the best coffee is the coffee you prefer and like, our sourcing philosophy is largely motivated by our mission to bring better coffee to each and every consumer who steps through our doors.
We also hope to make brewing cafe-quality coffee at home more fun and enjoyable, hence our roasting approach aims at a balance of extractability of the coffee while maximising the expression of the coffee from the origin's terroir.
What motivated Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee to explore the capsule coffee format?
Enablers are truly important. With the ecosystem that MORNING has built, improved and accessible technology for production, as well as stronger demand for better quality coffee, we feel that it's the right moment for us to venture into another spectrum of coffee brewing. Something that provides a more convenient format without compromising on quality.
We all have our morning routines, and coffee is often a crucial part of it. What is your morning ritual like?
A filter coffee usually, something fruity, floral and sweet is always favoured.
What are you most excited about right now and for the future of Tiong Hoe Specialty Coffee?
We hope to always evolve and stay relevant, yet remain familiar and true to our vision and values — building a community for people who are passionate about making and drinking coffee.
