Overview
Common Man Coffee Roasters is a Singapore-born specialty coffee brand known for coffee roasting, café dining, all-day brunch, wholesale coffee, and barista education. Established in 2013, the brand has grown from its first café at Martin Road in Singapore into a regional coffee concept with locations in Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines.
The brand is especially known for combining specialty coffee with generous brunch plates, creating the kind of café where someone can stop in for a serious cup of coffee and accidentally stay long enough to call it a lifestyle. Very dangerous. Very delicious.
Today, Common Man Coffee Roasters is also connected to the Jollibee Group through a Philippine joint venture with Food Collective Pte. Ltd., allowing the Singapore café brand to expand into the Philippines while maintaining its specialty coffee identity.
About the Brand
Common Man Coffee Roasters, often abbreviated as CMCR, was established in Singapore in 2013 with the aim of championing specialty coffee and all-day brunch. The brand operates cafés, roasts and sells coffee beans, provides wholesale coffee services, and runs Coffee Barista Academy programs in Singapore and Malaysia.
Its cafés are designed around the idea that coffee should be both carefully made and enjoyable to experience. Customers can visit for espresso drinks, brewed coffee, brunch dishes, pastries, retail coffee beans, and a café atmosphere built for conversation, work, and relaxed dining.
The company places strong emphasis on specialty-grade coffee, responsible sourcing, and the relationship between coffee growers, roasters, baristas, and customers. That full chain matters because a good cup of coffee does not magically appear. Someone farmed it, processed it, roasted it, brewed it, and then someone else took one sip and suddenly became pleasant again.
Company Background
Common Man Coffee Roasters began in Singapore, where its first café opened at Martin Road in the Robertson Quay area. The flagship location introduced the brand's combination of specialty coffee, roasting expertise, brunch dining, and hospitality-focused service to Singapore's already lively café scene.
Over time, the brand expanded into additional locations in Singapore, including cafés in areas such as Stanley Street, Joo Chiat Road, and ION Orchard. Each branch reflects the brand's focus on coffee quality while adapting to the rhythm of its neighborhood, from business-district visits to weekend brunch gatherings.
Common Man Coffee Roasters later expanded beyond Singapore into Malaysia and the Philippines. In the Philippines, Jollibee Group and Food Collective Pte. Ltd. formed a joint venture to own and operate Common Man Coffee Roasters and Tiong Bahru Bakery, with Jollibee Group holding 60% of the business.
What Common Man Coffee Roasters Serves
Common Man Coffee Roasters serves specialty coffee, espresso beverages, filter coffee, cold coffee drinks, teas, juices, pastries, desserts, and all-day brunch dishes. Menu offerings vary by location, although coffee and brunch remain the heart of the brand.
Customers may find espresso classics such as lattes, cappuccinos, flat whites, long blacks, and mochas alongside hand-brewed coffee and seasonal drinks. Retail coffee beans are also available for customers who want to enjoy Common Man Coffee Roasters at home, which is either practical or a polite way of admitting the café has successfully entered one's personality.
The all-day brunch menu is another major part of the experience. Depending on location, cafés may offer dishes such as eggs, toast, pancakes, granola bowls, salads, sandwiches, burgers, and other hearty plates designed for breakfast, brunch, lunch, or the highly respected meal category known as “I just needed coffee and now there is food.”
The Specialty Coffee Experience
Common Man Coffee Roasters has built its reputation around specialty coffee, a category that emphasizes carefully sourced beans, precise roasting techniques, and skilled preparation. Every stage of the process—from coffee farming and harvesting to roasting, brewing, and serving—plays a role in the final cup.
The company works with coffee sourced from different producing regions around the world, allowing customers to experience a variety of flavor profiles influenced by climate, altitude, processing methods, and coffee varieties. Depending on the season, cafés may feature beans from countries such as Ethiopia, Colombia, Brazil, Guatemala, Kenya, and other well-known coffee-growing regions.
This focus on quality has made Common Man Coffee Roasters a destination for both casual coffee drinkers and enthusiasts interested in exploring the differences between espresso, filter coffee, and single-origin selections.
More Than a Coffee Shop
Although coffee remains the centerpiece, Common Man Coffee Roasters has also become known for its all-day brunch menu. Fresh ingredients, thoughtfully prepared meals, and generous portions have helped establish the cafés as popular destinations for breakfast meetings, weekend brunches, afternoon lunches, and casual gatherings.
The menu complements the coffee program with dishes designed to suit different dining occasions. Customers can enjoy hearty breakfasts, sandwiches, salads, pastries, desserts, and seasonal offerings while relaxing in cafés designed for conversation, work, or simply taking a break from a busy day.
This combination of specialty coffee and quality food has allowed the brand to appeal to a broad audience beyond traditional coffee enthusiasts.
Growing Across Southeast Asia
From its beginnings in Singapore, Common Man Coffee Roasters has expanded into Malaysia and the Philippines, introducing its café concept to new markets while maintaining the standards that shaped its reputation. Each location reflects the brand's commitment to hospitality, carefully prepared beverages, and approachable dining.
Its Philippine expansion, supported through a joint venture involving the Jollibee Group, represents another example of how established regional café brands can grow through strategic partnerships while preserving their individual identity.
As interest in specialty coffee continues increasing throughout Southeast Asia, Common Man Coffee Roasters remains well positioned to introduce more customers to carefully roasted coffee and contemporary café culture.
Who May Enjoy Common Man Coffee Roasters?
Common Man Coffee Roasters welcomes coffee enthusiasts, remote workers, students, entrepreneurs, travelers, brunch lovers, and anyone looking for a relaxed café environment paired with thoughtfully prepared food and beverages. Whether stopping by for a quick espresso, a leisurely brunch, or a productive afternoon with a laptop, customers can enjoy a café experience that balances quality coffee with warm hospitality.
For visitors exploring Singapore's café scene, Common Man Coffee Roasters offers an excellent introduction to one of the country's most respected specialty coffee brands while showcasing how modern cafés can successfully combine coffee, food, education, and community.
Contact Information
Brand: Common Man Coffee Roasters
Founded: 2013
Origin: Singapore
Founders: Common Man Coffee Roasters Pte. Ltd.
Industry: Specialty Coffeehouse and Café
Specialties: Specialty coffee, espresso beverages, filter coffee, all-day brunch, pastries, desserts, retail coffee beans, and barista education.
Philippine Expansion: Operated through a joint venture between Jollibee Foods Corporation and Food Collective Pte. Ltd.
Official Website:
https://commonmancoffeeroasters.com
Interesting Facts
- Common Man Coffee Roasters opened its flagship café in Singapore in 2013.
- The brand is widely recognized for combining specialty coffee with an extensive all-day brunch menu.
- Beyond operating cafés, the company roasts coffee, supplies wholesale coffee, and conducts professional barista training through its Coffee Barista Academy.
- The brand sources coffee beans from producing regions around the world, showcasing a variety of origins and flavor profiles throughout the year.
- In 2024, Jollibee Foods Corporation entered a joint venture with Food Collective Pte. Ltd. to expand Common Man Coffee Roasters and Tiong Bahru Bakery in the Philippines.
- Today, Common Man Coffee Roasters operates cafés in Singapore, Malaysia, and the Philippines while continuing to grow its specialty coffee community.
Final Thoughts
Common Man Coffee Roasters demonstrates how a commitment to quality coffee, thoughtful hospitality, and carefully prepared food can create a café experience that appeals to both everyday customers and specialty coffee enthusiasts. By combining expert roasting with approachable service, the brand has established itself as one of Singapore's leading names in specialty coffee.
As it continues expanding across Southeast Asia, Common Man Coffee Roasters remains dedicated to celebrating coffee at every stage—from the farm and the roastery to the espresso machine and the customer's table. Whether visiting for a handcrafted flat white, a leisurely brunch, or a bag of freshly roasted beans to enjoy at home, guests experience a café built around craftsmanship, consistency, and genuine appreciation for great coffee.