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CNA
3 days ago
- Business
- CNA
Kampung spirit, no rent, good coffee: Why more Singaporeans are opening home cafes and doing well
In a post-pandemic economy riddled with inflation and skyrocketing rents, many aspiring cafe owners have found themselves opening up home cafes. Where once a corner coffee shop was a sustainable dream, the cost of renting has made the traditional cafe model feel unachievable. In response, a curious reversal has taken shape: People are opening their homes, from The Noob Coffee in Boon Lay to Brew With Grace in Sengkang. COFFEE BY THE PORCH IN YIO CHU KANG Tucked in a quiet Yio Chu Kang neighbourhood, a cosy porch in front of a terrace house has been transformed into a vibrant home cafe. No neon signs or fancy baristas, just three friends serving coffee and homemade bakes to a growing community. Coffee by the Porch was founded by a group of friends who met at Singapore Management University and are currently pursuing their bachelor's degrees. Jasmine Lim, 24, a passionate baker, and Winson Loke, 24, a self-taught coffee enthusiast, had been pondering the idea when they noticed a rising trend in home cafes in November 2024. When they brought it to Kaydon Lim, 25, who offered the front porch of his family's terrace home, the plan clicked into place. They currently have dine-in and takeaway options. 'We thought about doing something we can manage, cost wise as well,' said Jasmine Lim. 'So that's why we decided to try home cafe first, and if it ever goes big, then maybe we'll transition to something bigger.' But more than just a workaround for high rent, the trio sees home cafes as a growing cultural shift. 'Going to cafes in town or especially on weekends, it's super-duper crowded. Let's say I want to go somewhere that's more chill and laid back, I would want to go somewhere near my neighbourhood. And the issue with that is there's not a lot of options in neighbourhoods,' said Loke. The idea came up in November 2024 but the trio only managed to start working on it in March this year. They forked out S$2,000 (US$1,556) on essentials like tables and chairs to furnish the cafe. They also managed to keep the costs low by reusing the coffee machinery that they had already owned previously. 'We went around Singapore to around five different roasters to try beans. We were very overly caffeinated the whole day,' said Loke, who manages the coffee aspect of the cafe. To keep the menu fresh and trendy, they also introduced items like acai bowls and matcha drinks, which have been hits in their cafe. Some items in their menu include, strawberry matcha (S$6.50), madelines (S$5 for three pieces), banana cake (S$5 for two pieces), cookie butter acai bowl (S$7). Their signature coffee, the Einspanner coffee, is priced at S$6. On the first day of launch, they were fully sold out. "We didn't expect so many people to come. All of the plastic cups and plates were gone even though we ordered around 500 pieces,' said Lim, with a laugh. Since their launch in April, Coffee by the Porch has seen more than 100 customers a day. The cafe is also pet-friendly which has naturally attracted a crowd of animal lovers and fur parents. Dana Yang, 28, and her sister Edna Yang, 23, have been visiting home cafes in the last two weeks. They shared that the lower prices and close proximity of these cafes to their home have been major pull factors. 'It's interesting that in some home cafes the drinks might even be nicer than what you find in a legit cafe,' said the older Yang. While opening up one's home to the public might seem awkward, the passion for serving others eventually outweighed the initial feeling. 'I have to admit that it was kind of awkward allowing people into my personal space. Eventually there was a change of mindset,' said Kaydon Lim. The founders also see their venture as a way to foster community connection. 'I want to see more home-based cafes, because it's kind of bringing back the kampung spirit in a sense, you go into someone's house and say I want to eat this, which hasn't been the case for a while,' said Loke. He added: 'People who are better at making coffee have the avenue to now start their business from home. So I think that will force a lot of local cafes to up their game." Coffee by the Porch is located at 8 Jalan Jarak. More details here. Home cafes have also been making waves at HBD flats. Brewprint Coffee in Tampines offers only pickup services and is open daily, sometimes as late as 10pm. Founded by siblings, Khairul, in his late 20s, and Nur Qistina, 25, the cafe operates on a pre-order basis via Grab or their website. The day-to-day operation of the cafe is done by Khairul, while Qistina supports the business on certain days and manages its social media presence. The idea took shape after Khairul spent three months working at a cafe last year. Unfortunately, as the cafe was not doing well, Khairul had to quit his job in July 2024. But the setback turned out to be a silver lining for him. 'My sister was like, since you like serving and making coffee, and you're always at home, why don't we just open a home cafe,' said Khairul. The timing worked in his favour as his current job runs on night shifts, freeing up his daytime to run the home cafe. Brewprint Coffee started in October 2024, but things didn't pick up immediately. 'Some days I'll be just sitting down, doing nothing and just waiting for customers to come,' he admitted. 'We didn't really push out marketing in the beginning especially around the neighbourhood.' However, with Qistina's consistent efforts to push out more marketing content and as the trend began to gain traction, Brewprint Coffee picked up momentum in February 2025. Today, the cafe sees up to 50 cups sold on weekends and around 20 sold on weekdays. Some items in their menu include a matcha series featuring flavours such as mango, strawberry and salted caramel, each priced at S$6.80. Despite running the business from home, Khairul emulates the style of an actual cafe. Customers are given the option to choose between two single-origin coffee beans: Brazilian and Ethiopia, allowing them to have a more personalised coffee experience. 'The Brazilian beans offer a rich, chocolatey flavour, while the Ethiopian beans give a fruity taste,' said Khairul. 'Most cafes offer blended beans, but we offer single origin to highlight the unique flavours.' Their cups are also bigger in size to ensure that customers feel the experiences matches or even exceeds that of a commercial cafe. From their coffee series, drinks like the caramel macchiato are available at S$5.80 (hot) and $6.30 (iced) while the black forest macchiato is offered only iced at S$6.90. Khairul emphasised that for him and his sister, running Brewprint Coffee isn't about making big profits. 'I don't think it's really about earning money. We don't buy in wholesale or get our goods cheap, but we just love serving people coffee,' he explained. He added the unique selling point about home cafes is about offering people an experience they can't get elsewhere which is the personal connection they offer. 'It's not just about people coming in and putting money in your pocket. It's really about, the conversations we have,' he said. 'I think one of my neighbours that came, I've recently started talking to her when I don't even know she lived here. Then she's like, 'I didn't know it was your business' and now she has started to buy every day.' For Khairul the growing competition from other home cafes doesn't scare him. In fact, he welcomes it. 'I really love the idea that more people are opening up home cafes because we are helping people enjoy their cup of coffee at a comfort place of theirs, that's near them, and it's not so expensive,' he said. Brewprint Coffee is located at Block 285, Tampines Street 22. More details here. TOFU TOFU IN BEDOK Located in Bedok, another home cafe that has jumped on the bandwagon is Tofu Tofu. What sets this cafe apart from other two is that it is dedicated entirely to matcha. From the drinks to the concept, everything revolves around the green tea. Founded by Tris Su, 34, a full-time digital marketer, Tofu Tofu was born out of her frequent matcha cravings and passion for hosting. Currently, the cafe only offers pickup services and opens mostly on weekends. 'I always liked hosting my friends, so they will usually come to eat or drink together. My family is used to it – having people around coming over to the house,' said Su. Talking about her motivations to open a home cafe instead of a commercial cafe, Su emphasised that the high rental was the biggest issue. 'When you run from home, there's this flexibility. You get to open when you are free and you still get to spend time with your family and friends,' she added. 'A good matcha to me should be well-balanced. You can taste some umami, and it shouldn't be too bitter with a sweet node to it,' she explained. To elevate the quality of her drinks, Su focused on microfoaming – a technique essential for creating the smooth and creamy texture that defines a high-quality matcha drink. She also had to experiment with different matcha powders and finally settled for ceremonial grade powder, Niko Neko, to achieve the flavour and texture she wanted. Some of the items in their menu include strawberry matcha latte, salted caramel hojicha latte and kaya macha latte priced at S$5.90 each. During Tofu Tofu's first launch, Su received a total of 20 orders over three days. However, by her next opening date in April, orders skyrocketed to over 100 orders, thanks to a viral TikTok video showcasing her home cafe. 'It was very overwhelming, because it was only me,' Su recalled. 'I only had one matcha bowl, and I provide hot whisk and cold whisk. So I had to wash the bowl and then do a hot whisk again and then a cold whisk, I was just running around in the kitchen non-stop.' Now, Su handles about 40 cups per opening day, but she has made improvements to help manage the chaos. To give her time to prepare, her cafe now runs on a pre-order basis, where customers place their orders and pay through an application. Jonathan Poh, 28, who lives two blocks away from Su, buys her drinks on every one of her opening days. 'It feels more personal and intentional because they have their own story,' said Poh. Having a culinary background himself, Poh said Su's journey to start a food business with no prior knowledge has encouraged him to rethink about his hesitations. For him, visiting her cafe has become more than just about the drinks, it's a way to connect with people he otherwise wouldn't have met.
Straits Times
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Straits Times
GE2025: PAP's Yip Hon Weng has plans for more elderly-friendly services in Yio Chu Kang SMC
The PAP's Yio Chu Kang candidate Yip Hon Weng with hawkers during a walkabout at the market at Blk 628 Ang Mo Kio on April 29. ST PHOTO: HAZEL TANG Follow our live coverage here. SINGAPORE - When Mr Yip Hon Weng was introduced as the PAP candidate for Yio Chu Kang SMC in GE2020, he was a political newbie. With just a few weeks to the election then, the first-time candidate had limited opportunity to introduce himself to residents - a challenge made even more daunting by the constraints of campaigning during the Covid-19 pandemic. 'As a newcomer, you need visibility. People need to know who you are and with your face covered by a mask, it's hard to build that familiarity,' Mr Yip told The Straits Times on April 29 before a walkabout. Now, five years on, an endless stream of residents come up to Mr Yip as he walks through the market at Blk 628 Ang Mo Kio and the surrounding housing blocks. They greet him warmly - some offering candid feedback, others expressing steady support. The incumbent MP for Yio Chu Kang who is seeking re-election says that he spent much of his first term earning the trust of residents 'the hard way' - through tireless house visits, face-to-face engagement and a ground-up approach focused on listening to residents' concerns, following up and delivering results. But Mr Yip is not taking this trust for granted come polling day on May 3. 'Nearly every seat is contested. We must fight hard each time,' said Mr Yip who will be going up against the People's Alliance for Reform's Dr Michael Fang in the coming election. In the last election, Mr Yip secured 60.82 per cent of the vote against the Progress Singapore Party's Ms Kayla Low. Mr Yip said that having a contest gives residents a choice at the ballot box, and it is important for people to make that decision for themselves. Regardless of what the opposition is doing, Mr Yip says he and his team remain focused on their outreach efforts and plans to serve residents. Mr Yip also urged voters to assess MPs on two fronts: whether they are present and effective on the ground, and whether they speak up in Parliament. On the municipal level, he pointed to how he has tackled issues ranging from requests for more covered walkways, to the placement of incense burners around the estate. He has also tried his best to explain the trade-offs and the thought process behind each decision to residents. A map handed to the PAP's Yio Chu Kang candidate Yip Hon Weng by a resident, which points out areas the resident hoped covered walkways could be added. ST PHOTO: HAZEL TANG Beyond estate matters, Mr Yip said that MPs have a responsibility to raise feedback in Parliament and ensure policies are scrutinised from various perspectives. In Parliament, Mr Yip has spoken on ove r 130 bills and filed more than 500 parliamentary questions , covering both local and national issues. These include topics such as the cost of living, scams, and education — which he says are concerns frequently raised during house visits. Looking ahead, Mr Yip stays committed on continuing the work he's started. If re-elected, he hopes to further improve the amenities and estate conditions in Yio Chu Kang, with projects like the upcoming Neighbourhood Renewal and Home Improvement Programmes . Drawing on his experience with the Ministry of Health and Agency for Integrated Care, Mr Yip plans to enhance Yio Chu Kang's status as Singapore's first fully dementia-friendly neighbourhood by introducing more services for seniors. One of the plans is to implement more clear signage, colourful zoning and wall murals, and he also hopes to introduce healthcare and wellness programmes to better support the growing elderly population. 'I want to ensure that our community remains well-connected, accessible and supportive for everyone,' he said. 'It's not about grand promises, but about delivering on what matters most - ensuring that residents' needs are heard, and their concerns are addressed.' Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Straits Times
27-04-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Income-Allianz deal made in good faith, NTUC will do better: Ng Chee Meng
A public fainted at the PAP rally for Ang Mo Kio GRC, Jalan Kayu, Kebun Bahru and Yio Chu Kang SMCs held at Fern Green Primary School on April 27, 2025. The Straits Times ST20250427-202551600624-Lim Yaohui-Chin Soo Fang-sfrally27/ Ng Chee Meng, PAP candidate for Jalan Kayu SMC, speaking at the PAP rally for Ang Mo Kio GRC, Jalan Kayu, Kebun Baru and Yio Chu Kang SMCs at Fern Green Primary School on April 27, 2025. (ST PHOTO: LIM YAOHUI) The Straits Times SINGAPORE - The sale of NTUC's Income Insurance to German insurer Allianz was proposed in good faith and seen to be reasonable, said labour chief Ng Chee Meng on April 27, in response to criticism that the labour movement had not spoken up against the deal. Speaking at the PAP rally for Jalan Kayu SMC, the single seat that he is running in, Mr Ng said: 'We thought in the labour movement that it was a reasonable deal.' Noting that Income's market share had fallen from 20 per cent to 6 per cent in the past 10 years, he said: 'The proposed deal could strengthen Income and, most importantly, protect the interest of Income's policyholders.' A stronger Income would also enable NTUC to continue its social mission in areas besides insurance, he said. However, the proposed deal came under public scrutiny after questions were raised about Income's ability to continue its social mission after the sale and the Government eventually put a stop to it in October 2024. A Bill was also passed in the same month to amend the Insurance Act so that the Monetary Authority of Singapore would have to consider the views of the Ministry of Culture, Community and Youth when an application for regulatory approval involves an insurer that is either a cooperative or linked to one. 'NTUC couldn't have known (that) the law would be changed. But we sincerely respected the Government's view and accept it,' said Mr Ng. He added: '(We) humbly acknowledged the public feedback that we have received. I've initiated a review in NTUC enterprises so that we can learn the right lessons. 'In NTUC, we will do our best, and sometimes I'm sorry that it is not good enough, but ... we will do better.' Mr Ng, who was part of the losing PAP team in Sengkang GRC at the 2020 General Election, is campaigning to get back into Parliament by winning in Jalan Kayu, where he faces Mr Andre Low of the Workers' Party. In recent days, the WP had questioned the NTUC's support for the Allianz deal. At a rally in Tampines on April 26, WP chief Pritam Singh noted that no labour MPs had asked questions about the deal in Parliament and called the labour movement a 'guaranteed trampoline' for losing PAP candidates. In response, Mr Ng said that there is 'no safe harbour', adding that he had to stand for re-election in 2023 to continue as the NTUC secretary-general, a role he was elected to in 2018. 'I stand before you because I want to serve, not with any safety net. As ironic as it sounds, when I stand to fight and champion workers' interests to anchor job security, I am, interestingly, the only one without real job security,' he said. Mr Ng said he knew 'it would be a hard fight' coming into the 2025 General Election. 'I know the opposition would drag these issues up, just as it's happening now,' he said. On losing in Sengkang GRC in 2020, Mr Ng said: 'The loss had a big personal impact not only on me, but also on my family, my union brothers and sisters and the PAP. I had to ask myself in that time: 'What should I do?' Some have asked me to 'jiayou' and carry on, others say it is time to move on.' But he added that he could not walk away from helping workers, who were losing their livelihoods during the Covid-19 pandemic. 'I understood then, what it meant to stand in the gap between desperation and hope. I'm just glad that the NTUC, together with our employers partners and the Government, we were able to bridge the gap and ... emerge stronger,' he said. Besides Mr Ng, the PAP candidates for Ang Mo Kio GRC as well as Kebun Baru and Yio Chu Kang SMCs also spoke at the rally at Fern Green Primary School. At around 9pm, Mr Ng had to pause his speech to call for paramedics after a woman in the audience fainted . 'Make space, give the person some air, please,' Mr Ng said. She was conscious when stretchered off and received medical attention in an ambulance at the rally site. The last speaker of the night, Senior Minister Lee Hsien Loong, who is leading the PAP team in Ang Mo Kio GRC, endorsed Mr Ng in his speech. Mr Ng had the 'grit and sense of responsibility' to continue serving as labour chief, he said, and 'proved himself reliable, trustworthy, committed' during the Covid-19 crisis. Calling the proposed Income-Allianz deal 'a serious matter', SM Lee said that the labour movement had deemed the sale reasonable and that the Government had also initially supported it because it met regulations. But the Government later changed its mind after looking further into the matter, SM Lee said, and changed the law to block the deal. 'NTUC cannot do that. The Government has to do that. But it shows we are brothers with them - a symbiotic relationship. You make a decision. I look at it impartially, objectively, afresh. There is no group think.' he said. SM Lee noted that while the labour MPs did not ask questions about the deal in Parliament, six PAP MPs and one WP MP did. He added that the WP had abstained from voting when it came to the legislation to block the deal. Mr Abdul Samad Abdul Wahab, NTUC vice-president and a union leader, also spoke up for Mr Ng at the rally. He said Mr Ng had helped to get pay rises for workers who go for training, better pay for lower-wage workers, laws to protect taxi drivers and private hire drivers , as well as flexible work arrangements , among other things. 'These are real actions, real outcomes for workers that make a difference (to the) lives of workers,' he said. 'Imagine if he gets into Parliament, he can do even more.' Sue-Ann Tan is a business correspondent at The Straits Times covering capital markets and sustainable finance. Kimberly Kwek joined The Straits Times in 2019 as a sports journalist and has since covered a wide array of sports, including golf and sailing. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
