Nestled in Watten Rise at Bukit Timah, Knead Kopi is a home-based cafe that serves up traditional Nanyang-style breakfast right in their front yard.
Photo via Knead Kopi
The home-based venture is run by Rachel Neo, alongside her partner, Glenndon Khoo.
Speaking to Mothership, the 25-year-old Neo shared that she opened Knead Kopi to care for her grandmother, affectionately known as Ah Ma Ang, who was diagnosed with dementia.
“Upon graduating in 2023, I became a management trainee at a popular pastry joint. However, I soon realised that the long, demanding hours of the F&B industry left me with little time to spend with my grandmother.”
“Especially after [she] was diagnosed with dementia, the heartbreak of coming home late, only to find her already asleep, became unbearable.”
Determined to support her family without giving up her passion for baking, Neo and Khoo took a leap of faith and started Knead Kopi as a home-based baking venture.
The inspiration for what Knead Kopi would eventually serve took root during morning walks with Neo’s grandmother.
“I noticed a recurring conversation that many in the community wanted a cosy place to gather after their workouts, but there was no cafe that truly catered to their tastes and convenience. And so, the idea for Knead Kopi was born,” Neo shared.
So far, Neo’s efforts have paid off.
Being involved in Knead Kopi’s operations has helped Ah Ma Ang remain engaged and connected to those around her.
She now assists with simple tasks, such as sticking stickers on their takeaway boxes and plastic cups.
“In the past, she’d often give excuses not to go for her morning exercise. But now, she looks forward to them just so she can tell her friends that there’s a cafe in her home,” Neo revealed.
Photo via Knead Kopi’s Instagram
Photo via Knead Kopi on Instagram
Not first F&B venture
Neo’s journey into the F&B world wasn’t a childhood dream – it was something that grew on her through lived experience.
Her path began at Raffles Girls’ Primary School (RGPS), but unlike many of her peers, Neo found herself in the Normal (Academic) stream at a neighbourhood secondary school.
While it was an unexpected detour, it was in her Food & Consumer Education (FCE) classes that she discovered a genuine love for baking.
Though she committed to her studies, her passion for baking never quite left her.
“Throughout my years of studies, I juggled part-time roles at various F&B outlets, gaining hands-on experience in the inner workings of the food industry,” she said.
Neo eventually started her first online business Bakeraiee in 2020 during the height of the pandemic.
But starting Knead Kopi was a whole other ball game for her and her partner.
Neo shared:
“Coming from a home baking background, we [were] used to smaller batch prep where everything was made to order.”
“But with Knead Kopi, where we serve walk-in customers daily and offer a rotating menu of bakes and drinks, we had to quickly figure out how much to prepare without overproducing or running out too early.”
To prepare for the cafe’s day-to-day operations, Neo and Khoo usually have to wake up in the wee hours of the morning.
Photo via Knead Kopi on Instagram
Photo via Knead Kopi on Instagram
“It’s a constant cycle of prepping, baking, cleaning, planning, and pouring our hearts into every little detail, all while trying to stay creative and consistent.”
Community response
Fortunately, their efforts have not gone unnoticed.
Since opening, Knead Kopi has recieved overwhelmingly warm and encouraging responses from the community.
According to Neo, many of her neighbours have since become regulars, turning the cafe into a familiar and welcoming gathering spot.
“Beyond just enjoying the drinks and bakes, a lot of customers tell us they’ve made new connections over kopi. People leave feeling like they’re part of a small community,” said Neo.
And while the long hours of running a cafe can be intense, its the little gestures that keep them going.
“There have been days where customers would buy us lunch, bubble tea or snacks. Some new customers even come by with chicken essence and traditional kueh specially for [Ah Ma Ang].”
Looking ahead
For Neo and Khoo, Knead Kopi was never about chasing rapid growth or expanding into a franchise.
At its core, the cafe is about spending quality time with her family while creating a warm and welcoming space for the neighbourhood.
Photo via Knead Kopi on Instagram
“We are content with keeping it as a cosy, home-based cafe built on love, tradition, and community, with no plans to expand beyond,” Neo shared.
Moving forward, she hopes that Knead Kopi will cultivate a sense of belonging within the community – drawing from the warmth and togetherness she experienced growing up with Ah Ma Ang.
Photo via Knead Kopi on Instagram
“Mealtimes weren’t just about eating, they were about sitting around the table, chatting, laughing, and just being present with one another. That spirit is what we try to carry into Knead Kopi – a space where people feel at home, surrounded by warmth, familiarity, and good food made with love.”
Knead Kopi
Address: 7 Watten Rise, Singapore 287290
Opening hours:
- 7:30am to 5pm, Monday, Tuesday and Friday
- 7am to 5pm, Saturday
- Closed on Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday
Top image via Knead Kopi on Instagram