Knead Kopi is a home cafe in Bukit Timah with Nanyang-style coffee and local breakfast delights

By Shannon Yap May 8, 2025

Table of Contents

From home-based bakery to home cafe
Familiar favourites with a twist

Amid a rising tide of home-based cafes, Knead Kopi has got people chattering about its kopitiam-style concept.

Besides its old-school kopitiam-style posters, and even a kopi guide plastered on the counter, Knead Kopi serves up traditional brews, alongside a slew of kopitiam-inspired bites.

It’s steered by a young couple, Rachel Neo and Glenndon Khoo, both aged 25, who wanted to break away from the go-to matcha and espresso-based coffee.

Knead Kopi began with a simple observation that “around the estate, there isn’t a nearby coffee shop with traditional drinks”.

Before the shop opened its doors to the public on March 1, the couple consulted Rachel’s uncle, who is a seasoned barista, and diligently learnt the craft from him for a month.

In the process, they drank a whopping five to six cups of coffee each day.

“That’s because traditional kopi needs practice and ‘aga-ration’ (estimation) as compared to modern coffee that mostly relies on weighing,” she adds.

Nestled in Watten Rise at Bukit Timah, Knead Kopi can be a tad tricky to find, blending in with the row of much-alike terraced houses.

But, fret not: Just keep a look out for a bicycle and an old-school biscuit tin by the main gate.

Here, the space is cosy and refreshingly unpretentious. With black camping chairs and foldable tables, it invites you to sit back and lepak (relax) for as long as you wish.

There’s little human and car traffic outside the house, offering a peaceful escape from the usual hustle and bustle of your day to day.

But be warned that seating here is entirely al fresco, and you’ll need to contend with Singapore’s sweltering heat. Thankfully, the extended porch and one to two ceiling fans offer some much-needed respite.

From home-based bakery to home cafe

Rachel isn’t new to the F&B game — she brings four years of experience running Bakeraee, a home-based business selling brownies, cookies and burnt cheesecakes.

The reason behind this transition from Bakeraee to today’s Knead Kopi is a deeply personal one. It’s rooted in Rachel’s heartfelt desire to keep her dementia-stricken grandmother, who is affectionately known as Ahma Ang, active.

So far, it has paid off: Ahma now helps with small tasks such as pasting stickers onto cups and boxes. She’s also able to recognise familiar neighbours when they hop over for a brew.

Two months since opening, Knead Kopi is quickly becoming a well-loved spot in the neighbourhood, too.

Rachel says that “it’s so cute when she sees the Watten neighbours come as one person and leave as two”, referring to how her customers often make friends and meet new people at Knead Kopi.

Familiar favourites with a twist

We were delighted to find all the coffeeshop staples — ranging from kopi, teh, Horlicks, Milo, and even Milo Dinosaur — with prices from S$1.60 and nothing above S$4.

The menu also boasts a selection of bakes, blending both local favourites and weekly specials.

Out of the lot, the banana walnut loaf (S$4.80), mochi brownie (S$5), and egg tart (S$2.50) are permanent fixtures at Knead Kopi.

We made a beeline for the set one (S$8.50) — the quintessential kaya toast set with a twist — that’s served with three slices of lightly toasted baguette, homemade kaya, two soft boiled eggs, alongside a choice of drink.

The spread is not too sweet with a thick texture. It’s undeniably comforting, though it felt odd to enjoy my toast in this fashion — open-faced with a slab of butter and kaya spread on the side that I had to put together on my own — rather than the classic way of brown toast slices with butter and kaya sandwiched between.

The soft-boiled eggs were well-executed, though — Knead Kopi’s version of soft and silky egg white and a slightly runny yolk is well-timed and not over-cooked, as some places have it.

While some may say it takes an experienced barista to brew a good cuppa, Knead Kopi’s young coffeeman Glenndon proves to be a promising candidate.

Just like a neighbourhood kopitiam uncle, he brews and “pulls” the drinks in a big metal pitcher, then mixes each drink fresh upon order.

Each sip of the iced kopi siew dai (S$2.30) was robust, without being overly acidic.

Similarly, the iced teh (S$2.30) was smooth and didn’t taste siap-siap (astringent).

Another comforting classic is the curry chicken (S$9.50) that brings together a creamy coconut curry gravy loaded with melt-in-your-mouth potato cubes and delicate chicken slices.

In classic Singapore fashion, it’s served with five baguette slices to dip into all that curry goodness.

We ended our meal on a sweet note with the homemade bakes.

Brownie lovers will fall head over heels for the fudgy mochi brownie (S$5) that hides a layer of chewy mochi beneath its dense, chocolatey exterior.

An exclusive dessert on the week of our visit was the pistachio tiramisu (S$8).

The cream holds a velvety, yet light texture, and layered in between the soft ladyfinger biscuits.

Surprisingly, it’s rich, without being too cloying — an indulgent treat for those with a sweet-tooth.

If you’re in search of a home cafe that’s a little out of ordinary, Knead Kopi is definitely up your alley. Before you swing by, be sure to check out its Instagram page for the weekly specials!

For the latest eats, read more about the opening of Australia’s legendary Gelato Messina in Singapore and the beautiful Mediterranean restaurant Hortus at Gardens by the Bay.

Enjoy up to 50% off when you dine with GrabFood Dine Out.

You can also book a ride to Knead Kopi.