In recent years, many vending machines have defied stereotypes by offering instant ready-to-eat meals and café-style drinks that rival restaurant standards. To provide a similar experience for members and visitors, CSC @ Bukit Batok launched Jiak, a one-stop shop with several vending machines serving a variety of instant food and beverages.

Last month, we visited Jiak at CSC @ Bukit Batok to see if the new vending machines could possibly be a quick way to fix our cravings.  

What the Cup x TAO BIN

This machine caught our eye first with its striking blue exterior and a fully functional screen with displays of various drinks. Don’t be deceived by its skinny exterior – this machine provides over 300 types of drinks, ranging from traditional americanos to modern flavours like Thai milk tea and matcha. Depending on your drink of choice, you could opt for hot, cold or ice-blended. 

We tried the Oreo Volcano, priced around $6. The ice-blended drink features a milky drink with a soft crunch that comes from the crushed Oreo toppings. It gave us a nostalgic taste of an ice-blended drink from your neighbourhood bubble tea shop, but with an avalanche of its Oreo taste. Perfect as an icy treat on a hot day.

Uniqueness: 5/5 (where else could you get an oreo ice blended from a vending machine?)
Taste: 5/5 
Visual appeal: 4/5

CoffeeBot 

Placed right by the entrance, the CoffeeBot machine is hard to miss. With over 20 classic drink options to choose from, CoffeeBot is perfect for those looking for a hassle-free drink to grab and go. 

The Caramel Latte ($3) doesn’t shy from the familiar taste. The caramel is perfectly blended with the coffee but enjoyable enough for a quick drink. For the tea lovers, the Iced Milk Tea ($~3) has a distinct milky taste that mixes well with tea. A soft froth layers on the top, giving it a very homely feel. 

Both drinks were great in comforting our craving for coffeeshop drinks. No complicated flavours. Simple, classic and distinct in every cup. You’ll only have to wait less than 5 minutes for a perfect drink.

Uniqueness: 4/5
Taste: 3/5 
Visual appeal: 3.5/5

E-Meals by Taste Asia Machine

This machine offers one of the widest varieties of food, snacks and drinks amongst all machines. Instead of trying just one item, we had to get a few to test out their range. The wider range also included familiar foods such as POKKA drinks, spicy cassava chips and chocolate bars.

The Alfredo Neo Pizza Super Seafood (~$3) was one of the ready-to-heat food options available, and we were intrigued by the size of the single-serving pizza. The seafood flavours were strong and consistent, with visible prawns, cuttlefish and crabstick pieces all over the slice. Each bite was also accompanied by a soft spicy kick from the slices of capsicum. While the pizza was delicious, we wished it came with English instructions for our heating process.

If you’re feeling peckish, opt for the Super Ring Cheese Crackers ($0.99) for a nostalgic treat. Skip the messy orange fingers and go straight for the taste we all remember. Though the cheesy taste was not as strong as we expected, it was worth its price point.  

Uniqueness: 5/5 (perfect for picky-eaters!)
Taste: 4/5
Visual appeal: 4/5

AMGD Global Machine

Salmon Kimchi Rice (top), Tofu Spaghetti (bottom)

For the clean eaters, this machine is for you. Offering a range of homemade drinks, clean snacks and instant meals, you won’t have to feel guilty taking another bite. 

The Tofu Spaghetti ($5.90) may look a little plain, but the addition of the teriyaki sauce improved the overall taste. The sprinkle of walnuts, cabbage and broccoli added an extra crunch to the dish. Similar to pan mee, you can mix the noodles with other ingredients for the ultimate savoury taste in every bite. 

For a more unique taste, the Salmon Kimchi Rice ($6.90) is a must-try. The meal takes hints from the popular bibimbap, with walnuts, fresh kimchi and purple cabbage on the side to add flavour to each bite. If you’re counting calories, there will also be a tag with the number of calories in each meal.  

Uniqueness: 3/5
Taste: 4/5 (we love the healthy and delicious combo!)
Visual appeal: 3/5

Writer's note: Food from the AMGD Global Vending Machine is halal-certified!

Hotbake Sandwich Machine

Hotbake sandwiches often invoke a feeling of nostalgia. Whether you’ve had it in school or at a hospital, you’ve definitely had it sometime in your life. During our visit, the sandwiches for the day were the Roast Chicken Pizza and the Pharaoh Chicken. Each sandwich is sold at $3.50 - $4 each, while you can get both for $7. 

Although named differently, both sandwiches had similar tastes. The Roast Chicken Pizza flavour had a stronger hint of tomato sauce, while the Pharaoh Chicken was vegetable-focused with capsicums and lettuce. While other machines have sandwiches, Hotbake is the only machine to offer hot and toasted sandwiches. 

Uniqueness: 3.5/5
Visual appeal: 4/5 
Taste: 5/5 (nostalgic flashbacks with every bite!)

Yogurt and Gelato Machines

Yogurt with caramel crunch and gelato with Biscoff toppings (left to right).

Out of all the machines, these two were the flashiest while tucked away in the corner. Both machines sold different desserts with the same toppings available – caramel crunch, crushed Oreos or Biscoff bits for $0.50 each. Despite similarities, the yogurt was priced at $3.80 and the gelato at ~$2. 

The yogurt offered a clean, tangy and creamy taste, while the gelato had a smoother and denser texture. If you’re looking for a refreshing dessert to beat the heat, these would definitely do the trick. 

To level up our yogurt, we added a Snickers bar (purchased from E-Meals by Taste Asia for $1.90) for extra flavour. Not only did it elevate the flavour, but it also gave an extra crunch from the bits of peanuts and caramel from the Snickers bar. Try it out for yourself on your visit to Jiak!

Uniqueness: 3/5
Visual Appeal: 4/5
Taste: 4/5

All in all, Jiak is worth the visit if you're looking for tasty and quick bites. The variety offered by all machines appeals to people of all ages.  Whether you're in Bukit Batok for a quick dip in the pool or to practise your bowling skills, stop by Jiak for an energy boost! 

Jiak is open Monday through Sunday, 8am to 9pm, on Level 3 of CSC @ Bukit Batok. 

Disclaimer: This article reflects the writer's personal opinions at the time of the visit. Prices and items available may vary.