It took us a few moments to find the front door. After following the map to the exact spot, all we saw was a large, opaque glass garage-style door, closed, with no obvious handle, or even sign suggesting that a great coffee shop lay inside. We nearly gave up and turned back until we were saved by the “influencer”, one of the many young women roaming Penang, carefully curating photos at every “must visit” spot. We watched as she casually pressed against the side of the garage door and, just like that, it swung open. Mystery solved. We slipped in.
After a day of immersing ourselves in the food, architecture and culture of Georgetown, the capital of the state of Penang, stepping inside felt almost disorienting. For a brief moment, it was though we had wondered into a cafe in Melbourne’s central business district. We were instantly taken aback by the sheer scale of the place, a vast, light filled space we had nearly overlooked entirely.
The cafe is one space with exposed raw brick walls and visible ductwork tracing the ceiling overhead, accented by suspended LED light bars. The floor is a mix of small grey stones and grey concrete slabs with tables scattered throughout the room. A few large trees punctuate the neutral grey/beige palate, thriving beneath generous skylights that flood the space with natural light. The aircon does a almost miraculous job keeping this cavernous interior cool, a welcome contrast to the hot and sticky conditions outside. While it was easy to imagine the space humming with its usual buzz of activity, we arrived just five minutes before closing. Instead of the crowds we were gifted with perhaps a rare stillness, a quiet calm that mad pit feel lie a peaceful sanctuary.
Norm is a micro roaster and my in-house coffee connoisseur (Rich) was thoroughly impressed with their selection of beans, the careful presentation of their coffees and the dept of flavours in the final cup. For the tea lover there were many options from traditional brews to more playful, flavoured offerings, beautifully presented and perfectly brewed.
The light wood accents and soft, muted tones lend the cafe a subtle Scandinavian feel. It almost came as no surprise, then, to discover that the drinking chocolate on offer is by Melbourne’s own Mork Chocolate. A perfect match.
They serve both the 70% and the 80% dark chocolate options, available hot and iced and served with a freshly roasted house made marshmallow on the side. Mork, who also have a background in coffee, have created the perfect chocolate blend to be used in cafes (and is used in many around the world). Each cup feels like a warm, chocolatey hug.
I loved Penang, but it was nice to have this little moment of home before venturing out again. Norm is very close to the Cruise and Ferry Terminals, in the UNESCO World Heritage Site area of Georgetown. From here, you can wonder in any direction to explore its UNESCO World Heritage precinct. The best way to explore Georgetown, is to get lost in its streets and laneways.
Verdict: If you are looking for a break from the relentless heat, Norm will give you that AND great coffee AND great hot chocolate and great food apparently too! Although we arrived too late to try it.
Open daily 9:30am to 6pm, 13, Gat Lebuh Gareja, Georgetown, Malaysia
Insta: @norm.micro.roastery
