Flint Cafe

When it comes to finding the perfect habitat for me to get on with work, I am more than fussy. I wouldn’t be drawn to commercial franchises where the barista can’t spell my name right, or where the tables are simply too small for me to feel cosy and get down to what I need to do. As the opening song lyrics of the sitcom Cheers goes, “where everybody knows your name”, Flint, nestled at the end of a row of restaurants and cafés on the ground floor of The Curve, feels more than welcoming and, as is intended by its founders, it is a place for patrons to feel like part of a community.

The idea behind Flint was taken from the popular cartoon Flintstones which children of the 80’s would fondly remember watching while growing up. Flint is meant to cater to those who want to feel that they belong, and throughout the months since its opening, it has enthralled many first-time visitors who go on to become its regulars. The whole café was constructed to give off a cave vibe, with grey cement floors, white washed walls and mossy green patches and twigs crawling up the wall. The café is bright and cosy enough for patrons to get comfortable and chat over their Australian coffees whether they opt for Mocha or Cappuccino, whilst enjoying unique and tantalising Western and Malaysian fares such as Eggs Avo on Toast or Laksa Johore. There are also a wide selection of mocktails available. Flint seems like the right place for colleagues from the office to have that much needed respite from work during lunch break, or for family members to bond over dinner, or for entrepreneurs to hold that important meeting with a business prospect. As for the digital nomad, it’s a perfect venue to work solitarily without interruption from other patrons.

At the far corner of the café lies the sambal lab, where Flint showcases its sambal making apparatus. Not only famed for their specially sourced coffees which adhere to Australia’s highest brewing standards, Flint has also formulated and perfected the sambal nasi lemak which comes in four iterations – Balut, Terengganu, Arwah and Kelantan. Diners can opt for their chosen type of sambal to complement their nasi lemak, depending on whether they like their sambal a bit spicier or slightly sweet. Or if you’re feeling a little less peckish, Flint offers an array of snacks like keropok lekor or truffle fries; meanwhile patrons with a sweet tooth can indulge in tempting desserts such as the Pulut Bubur Hitam with ice-cream, which is my personal favourite.

The popularity of Flint is not to be regarded as accidental or be attributed to beginner’s luck. Its founders, Azri, Dan, Akim, Asyraf and Akif, are seasoned F&B entrepreneurs, having worked on a previous endeavour called Feebay Co. at Publika and Avenue K which have since ceased operations. Armed with the necessary experience and knowledge on what it takes to start and grow a coffee venture, Flint was born. Being part of the Flint community pervades the ethos of this café, with the founders taking that brave leap to occupy two lots at The Curve. This was in order to welcome more patrons to their fold and have ample space to host in-house events such as latte-making classes or barista-in-the making training sessions.

The staff at Flint are staunch believers in the philosophy of making patrons feel at home. They are seen to be talking to patrons politely, with infectious smiles and a gleaming sense of pride. Talking to one of the baristas at Flint, he shared that it was the strong sense of belonging he felt with the eclectic mix of personalities who frequent the café that compelled him to join Flint. With Flint’s strict dedication to making high quality coffees, it’s the right place to learn how to be a great barista.

I, too, am somewhat spellbound with Flint. It has become a favourite haunt for me to start my day with a cup of latte ornamented with a tiny piece of bahulu, fire up my laptop and start writing. The buzzing sound of the coffee grinder, the background chatter or even the catchy tune playing set the right atmosphere for my storytelling. The Flint fever spreads like wild fire, and those who catches it will feel bewitched by its compelling charm.