Rasa Rasa Cafe, or Niqiu Space (觉味.泥鳅空间), is a rather unique cafe in Batu Pahat just couple of units from the well-known Chop See Kee Wanton Noodle (亚泗云吞面). The cafe looks nondescript from its exterior — I did not realise it was a cafe until I saw a wooden board, with the words "pour-over coffee" printed on it, hanging outside its door.
Externally, Rasa Rasa Cafe looks antiquated with a blue Japanese short curtain above a small window and a set of old-fashioned wooden table and chairs. Internally, the cafe looks very much like an antique shop with tons of olden-days items decorating the walls and in all corners. The wooden furniture gives the space a rustic feel. The vibe is like having travelled back in time to have coffee in an old-day "clinic" — due to a large signboard that says "Kelinik Sentosa".
The shop is actually an old Siheyuan-style (四合院) unit with an open courtyard in the middle. The cafe's bar counter is at the rear of the unit with more tables and seats of varying shapes and sizes.
The menu is exquisitely designed with clear explanation on every item. The cafe emphasised on taste — the Malay term "rasa rasa" means "sense of taste". Pour-over coffee is the primary beverage to experience the different flavours of specialty coffee beans. The cafe served meatless rice and noodle dishes, sourdough and homemade desserts (pound cakes, cheesecakes, etc) with very low sweetness level.
Quality pour-over coffee is the cafe's specialisation — I chose La Germania (Columbia) beans for my coffee, which has a smooth, mellow roselle and gentle nutty taste profile. Professional advice will be provided on the most suitable type of coffee bean to choose. The list of specialty coffee beans changes regularly.
The cafe's homemade banana walnut pound cake (香蕉磅旦糕) served with handmade cream is one the highly-recommended desserts to try at the cafe. It is a nice-tasting dessert and is not too sweet.
Why is Rasa Rasa Cafe also called "Niqiu Space" (niqiu, or 泥鳅, is Chinese for pond loach)? That's something to find out on the next visit.
Address:
5, Jalan Jenang, Kampung Pegawai, 83000 Batu Pahat, Johor, Malaysia
Opening Hours:
9am to 6pm | Closed on Tuesday & Wednesday
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