PPP Coffee is probably a fixture in the local third-wave coffee movement scene after all these while — whilst it was previously known as Papa Palheta previously, it was subsequently re-branded as PPP Coffee somewhere in 2019. Apart from being the folks whom brought us Chye Seng Huat Hardware which has been around at Tyrwhitt Road for around a decade, as well as PPP Coffee at the refreshed Funan, one can easily find specialty coffee joints, ice-cream parlours and patisseries that brew their coffee using beans roasted by PPP Coffee. Available online and also for retail in their Funan store (or at least x that’s what we know of) is their Supernova line; the product line-up consisting of drip bags and Nespresso-compatible pods where one can enjoy their PPP Coffee at the comfort of their own home — one of the most recent launches though would be the Supernova Can; essentially ready-to-drink specialty coffee in a canned format that makes it a really convenient grab-and-go item. The Supernova Can is available in two variants; the Supernova Can — Oat Milk Latte, and the Supernova Can — Black, and one can easily give them a try by making an online purchase via PPP Coffee’s website or by dropping by their Funan outlet which we did.

The whole idea of serving up specialty coffee in a canned format is not an entirely new thing — Alchemist had previously also done so with its launch of the Frutti Pebbles, A Typical Mocha and Another White canned coffee that one was able to either purchase online via their official website, or at selected outlets when they were first released. PPP Coffee’s Supernova Can lineup features their canned coffee coming in 250ml cans; the Supernova Can — Oat Milk Latte is said to be “smooth and creamy” and bore a described that claims that despite them “not being morning people, we would leap out of bed for a Supernova”. Looking like any other oat milk latte that is being pulled straight out of the espresso machine with oat milk added, the Supernova Can — Oat Milk Latte delivers on what it claims; this is a no-nonsense cuppa within a canned that doesn’t come with that sweetness and flavour of coffee that is often associated with canned coffee. Featuring their PPP Coffee’s signature Throwback blend that features a mix of Indian and Brazilian beans, the coffee is smooth and creamy as described, whilst coming with a light body with a earthy and nutty flavour profile that made it easy to drink. The oat milk added to the coffee provides a flavour that one would associate with oats and grains — something similar to that of unsweetened cereal milk which was especially evident in the finishing note.

Being a canned coffee item, the Supernova Can — Oat Milk Latte does seem to defy the norms of what one would have expected out of ready-to-drink, commercially-made bottled / canned coffee. The Supernova Can — Oat Milk Latte was close enough to what one would associate with actual espresso-based coffee that is being brewed from an espresso machine. That being said, the major drawback of the Supernova Can — Oat Milk Latte would be its price point; listed at $7.50 for a can at PPP Coffee at Funan, the Supernova Can — Oat Milk Latte would probably remain as a novelty item rather than a substitute to a proper Oat Milk Latte being pulled from the espresso machine; the steep price point for the canned coffee is likely to be a deterrent for most where having an actual Oat Milk Latte is likely cheaper or costs around the same. That being said, it would be interesting to see the day where specialty coffee grade canned / bottled coffees are being sold commercially in convenient stores, groceries and supermarkets all around — definitely a great alternative to what is readily available now.