In the realm of refined tastes, coffee and wine often find themselves in a quiet dialogue — each revered not just for their intricate flavours, but for the mindful rituals that surround them. Last month’s Morning Coffee Club Meetup was an opportunity for those who appreciate both to come together and explore the subtle harmonies between these two worlds.
The afternoon saw us redefining the concept of day drinking with Sip & Savour: Wine O'Clock. Six distinctive coffees, each selected for their wine-like qualities, were thoughtfully introduced to our community. This tasting experience served as the perfect prelude to an engaging conversation with Vinodhan Veloo — a sommelier whose journey through the Michelin-starred restaurants of Singapore has now brought him to become the Head of Cellar at 67 Pall Mall Singapore.
What many might not have realised was that Vinodhan’s relationship with taste began in the world of coffee, where he first honed his palate as a barista. This origin story lent a unique depth to his insights as he and Leon discussed the connections between coffee and wine, the art of pairing, the rising interest in natural wines, and his decade-long journey through the F&B industry.
For those curious to learn more about Vinodhan and his journey, we’ve gathered a few questions to help you get to know him better.
Tell us more about yourself.
Hello there. My name is Vinodhan and I’m a 34 year-old Singaporean, wine and beverage professional. Apart from wine, I rely perhaps a little too much on coffee to get me through the day.
I married the love of my life MJ in 2021 and we had a baby boy named Chance the following year. Chance just turned two in July, and is my biggest inspiration. Together, the three of us live in a quiet part of Sembawang, just by the park and the beach.
I have always been quite the ambitious person, and I would find it hard slowing down to enjoy the little things. But a lot has changed since getting married to MJ. I now mostly look forward to the weekends when we go out cycling on our Bromptons, all three of us, experiencing Singapore patiently, slowly and most importantly, as a family.
“Happiness only real when shared” — Christopher McCandles
What’s your morning routine like?
My mornings are always in a bit of a rush. A rush to get into the shower and the shirts ironed. A rush for my wife to do the same + the makeup. We’re in a rush to do all of this before the little guy wakes up.
We get in the car and then drive to my mother’s place where we drop Chance off, and then off we go to work.
This is a stark contrast from just about 5 years ago when I used to take my time in the mornings, toast some leftover sourdough, to savour it with some butter and ‘Bonne Maman’. I’d pair this with some Ethiopian light-roasted coffee brewed over a Chemex. I sure miss those mornings!
What’s your favourite coffee, and how do you enjoy it?
Like I mentioned earlier, I used to enjoy filter coffee. Elegant, tea-like, wine-like, complex, and STRONG. My favourite beans were light-roasted, honey-processed coffee, from Africa and some Central American regions/countries.
These days I tend to go for espresso and especially capsule coffees at home and in the office since it offers the convenience of getting a quick fix, and with the quality available in pods and its paraphernalia, you still get great coffee.
What is one thing people don’t know about you?
I used to really like fishkeeping. It was something I’d spend almost all my time on. I had a subscription to the Practical Fishkeeping Magazine, I was active on the Monster Fishkeepers forums, and had also thought I’d someday become an ichthyologist? I don’t know… I surely miss fishkeeping now. But the commitment and space it requires is a luxury I can no longer afford. I guess you can say that the dream is now sleeping with the fishes. ;)
With all of that said, do you think you're a morning person?
Yes I definitely am. I love the mornings and I look forward to waking up before everyone does... so that I can have my morning coffee in peace.
Follow Vinodhan Veloo here.
