⁠⁠Ex-Raffles Girls’ Primary Student Opens Cafe In Bukit Timah Home To Spend More Time With Dementia-Stricken Granny

Home cafe minutes away from Raffles Girls’ Primary School

Rachel Neo and her boyfriend Glenndon Khoo, both 25, behind Knead Kopi, open shop early to catch the Raffles Girls' Primary School kids (just “two minutes away” from their house) and their parents who want breakfast before school starts. It’s a fun coincidence that Rachel is an alum of RGPS. 

"We noticed there was a gap in the market for parents who want to grab a quick breakfast with their children before dropping them off, or even just a takeaway kopi for themselves," Rachel tells 8days.sg. This early start does mean super early wake-up calls for the couple – they're typically up by 3:30am for prep work, ensuring their freshly baked baguettes and homemade kaya are ready for their first customers.

The couple behind the kopi

Rachel and Glenndon gave the porch a retro kopitiam-style feel with cute signages and a guide detailing the various types of local kopi. "We noticed that most home cafés were selling fancy espresso-based drinks, but there wasn't anyone in our area offering good old-fashioned local kopi," the couple tells 8days.sg. "We wanted to create something unique that connects with the community." Glenndon lives with Rachel and her parents, granny and younger sister in their terrace house.

They’ve been together for six years after meeting at ITE, where Rachel was Glenndon's orientation leader.

Simple setup

Their spacious front porch accommodates about 16 low camper chairs (not the most comfy) around tables, with additional "funny, funny seats" like chairs from their dining room that they bring out for older customers who need more stable seating.

“We want people to share tables and mingle," Rachel explains. "For the past few weeks, we’ve seen strangers turning into friends here. It’s very cute".

From RGPS to ITE, to home-based cafe boss

Rachel has an interesting story behind her decision to become an entrepreneur: "My education journey took an unconventional path. I began at the prestigious Raffles Girls' Primary School, but unlike many of my peers who moved on to elite secondary schools, I was placed in the Normal (Academic) stream at Guangyang Secondary School," she shares candidly. Rachel and her family have been living in this house since she was born, which is why she attended RGPS nearby.

“I was a little embarrassed at first” 

The transition wasn’t easy for her. “I was a little embarrassed at first,” Rachel admits. “Throughout primary school, I didn’t do well academically while everyone around me was acing everything. Going into the normal stream was actually a big change for me – I finally got to hang out with people at my level. It wasn’t so competitive anymore.”

The culture shock was significant too, coming from an all-girls school. “When I went to Guangyang I was like, ‘there were so many boys!’ And coming from an elite girls school, suddenly hearing a variety of vulgarities uttered [by some boys] was eye-opening. I didn’t even know any vulgarities at that time!” Rachel laughs.

"But during my secondary school Food & Consumer Education classes, I discovered my love for baking. I started with simple treats like cookies and chocolate cakes," Rachel recalls. "But as my confidence grew, I began experimenting with my own flavours and techniques," says the self-taught baker. 

While progressing through studying Business in ITE to a certification in early childhood education at the National Institute of Early Childhood Development, Rachel's passion for F&B never faded. “Going into early childhood education was one of my dreams, but I don’t think it would be my thing for long,” she admits. The pull of F&B was just too strong for her. 

Home-based cafe opened partly to spend more time with granny with dementia

"After graduating in 2023, I became a management trainee at a bakery chain. But the demanding hours left me with little time for my 84-year-old grandmother, who was diagnosed with dementia.” Rachel shares that she and her grandmother are "very, very close" because they've been living together since she was born.

Whole family pitches in, even granny

The café is truly a family business. Rachel focuses on crafting the menu and baking at the kitchen within the house, while Glenndon takes charge of brewing drinks using the traditional sock method. For toasting the baguettes, they use an induction cooker with a frying pan set up at the front porch. On weekdays, it's mainly Rachel and Glenndon handling everything.

The heart of the operation? Rachel's grandmother, affectionately known as Ah Ma Ang, who despite her mild dementia, remembers there's a cafe at home, but forgets specific details. “My grandmother slowly stopped wanting to attend her neighbourhood exercise classes daily, she used to fake headaches in the morning to skip the sessions. So we thought if we started a cafe at home, she would at least want to help me out, which is better than not doing anything,” adds Rachel.

Initially, she would help by cleaning plates when she saw Rachel busy. But after going viral, they now keep her inside the house for safety. Gran helps with backend tasks like pasting their brand’s stickers on cups and boxes. 

Rachel shares that her grandmother's condition worsened during COVID but isn't severe – she remembers things from long ago but struggles with daily details like what year it is, or what she ate for lunch.

She notes that every day for her grandmother feels like "day one" of the cafe thanks to her dementia. "The first thing she asks when she wakes up is 'how's the business?' It's quite funny, because she used to make excuses not to exercise, but now always says, ‘I have to hurry, go exercise and tell my friends about this cafe’, instead of wanting to stay home.”

"On weekends, my younger sister, who also holds a food hygiene certification, helps with serving," Rachel adds. Her 23-year-old sister who’s still studying, worked together with Rachel and Glenndon part-time at Mexican fast food chain Guzman y Gomez together for five years.

"The rest of the family pitches in whenever needed, from washing the dishes to providing moral support." Rachel's father works in food distribution, while her mother works in retail, both preferring to keep their companies private.

Old-school kopi with modern bakes

At Knead Kopi, you won't find fancy espressos or latte art. Instead, Glenndon serves up traditional kopi and teh at hawker center prices – a cup of Kopi goes for $1.80, while Teh costs $1.60 and Milo $2.30. There’s even a sinful Kopi Guyou (black coffee with condensed milk and a pat of butter) for $2.

"I learned how to make coffee from Rachel’s uncle, who’s a barista," Glenndon explains. "It took numerous tasting sessions and feedback before I won the approval of friends and family." The couple currently sources their coffee beans from a coffee factory at Balestier.

Kopi taste test

Our food editor sampled the coffee and found it yummy: rich, almost chocolatey and fragrant. The teh si could be less tannic, she opines.

The grub

The menu rotates weekly, with about 15 different items appearing on rotation. A constant is the homemade kaya with five pieces of baguette ($7 a la carte; $8.50 with two eggs and a drink), which are both freshly made the night before. On days when the demand is higher, Rachels bakes the bread the day itself.

The kaya is made almost daily and can last for two weeks in glass jars, which they also sell to customers. 

Kaya with baguette taste test

Our ed who visited the cafe on a busy weekday morning thinks the kaya is pleasantly lemak and not too sweet, with a chunky homey texture. But there’s just too little of it served with tiny pats of butter that she found sufficient to spread generously on perhaps only two of the five bread slices. The baguette is decent, but the modest portion of kaya and butter are kinda lost in all that thick, crusty dough.

(Ed's note: we were only told after this review that the kaya is refillable upon request.)

Banana Walnut Loaf taste test

She also tried the Banana Walnut Loaf ($4.80), which she thinks could be a little more moist and less floury.

Also available on rotation: Pistachio Chocolate Cookies ($4.50), Mochi Brownies ($5), Classic Brownies ($4.80), Tiramisu ($7), Egg Tarts ($2.50) and Carrot Loaf Cake ($4.80). 

They’ve recently added a new savoury dish: Chicken Curry ($9.50) with baguette, available from 10.30am to 5pm daily. All the bakes and curry are prepared by Rachel, who says recipes for the savoury dishes are from her granny and mum.

Upcoming new additions for the menu include Bee Hoon and Nasi Lemak, sometime in April.

Privacy issues at home, and do neighbours complain?

As for the family's privacy with customers coming and going almost on a daily basis, Rachel says they don't mind at all. "I think because we also host a lot of parties and family gatherings at home. My family just really likes people, and to be able to connect with our neighbours that we don't usually see is amazing."

What about her next-door neighbours, are they fine with the constant flow of customers and cars outside their house? “So far we haven’t received any complaints, everyone has been very friendly and many of our neighbours have become regulars,” says Rachel.

Can customers use the toilet? “Our customers have been kind in respecting our privacy, but we understand that sometimes, when you gotta go, you gotta go. Rest assured, we will always be understanding,” Glenndon chuckles.

No plans to expand

Unlike many home-based businesses that dream of brick-and-mortar expansions, Rachel and Glenndon are content with keeping Knead Kopi community-focused.

"The heart of Knead Kopi is all about spending quality time with family, particularly Ah Ma Ang," Rachel emphasises. "Our café serves as a space where she can stay connected with the community while enjoying the comfort of a familiar environment."

The couple is looking at running the business for at least the next two years to see how it goes. They invested less than $5,000 to start the cafe, mostly on extending the roof at the porch. "We didn't want to do anything major just to fit the cafe," Rachel explains.

They say they've been pleasantly surprised by their initial success. "Besides neighbours, we've had customers coming from as far as the east to visit us," Glenndon shares with pride. "It's also been incredibly touching to see returning customers who go out of their way to share their experience with friends and family."

During peak hours and on weekends, customers may have to wait about 15 to 30 minutes for seats. For those looking to avoid the crowds, 2pm-3pm on weekdays is your best bet, they advise. Note that the cafe is closed from 27 March to 7 April as the couple will be overseas.

Knead Kopi is at 7 Watten Rise, Bukit Timah. Open Mon-Wed & Fri 6am-5pm; Sat 7am-7pm. Closed 27 March - 7 April. Tel: 9069 4357. More info via Instagram.

Photos: Knead Kopi, Florence Fong

No part of this story or photos can be reproduced without permission from 8days.sg.

8days.sg is now on #tiktok! Follow us on www.tiktok.com/@8dayseat