A Dime for Your Time

With more cafes popping up in Singapore, Coffeemin distinguishes itself from the crowd by having customers pay for their time spent rather than for food and drinks. Lifestyle Editor Serena Yeh finds out more about this new concept cafe.

By Serena Yeh, Lifestyle Editor

PHOTO: TAN XIU QI

Coffeemin

6 Eu Tong Sen Street
#02-32
S059817
Opening hours: 11am – 10pm

A new cafe has hit our shores, where customers can stay for hours to play games, read or study, and indulge in a free flow of drinks and cookies. Better yet, they only need to pay for the amount of time they spend there.

Located in The Central at Clarke Quay, Coffeemin offers a homely and comfortable experience.

PHOTO: TAN XIU QI

This pay-as-you-go concept began in Moscow in late 2011, and it has since spread to other cities in Europe, such as London and Saint Petersburg. Local start-up Coffeemin is said to be the first to bring this concept to Asia. The first hour there costs $6, and every subsequent 10 minutes cost an additional $1. Prices are capped at $30, which means that customers can stay from the cafe’s opening to closing time but only spend $30.

A range of activities is available at the cafe at no additional cost. Customers can play pool, indulge in card games and Xbox, or read books and magazines. Free Wi-Fi and charging ports are also available at almost every table.

PHOTO: TAN XIU QI

The dining and leisure space is decorated with an eclectic mix of furniture that produces a vibrant and welcoming vibe. The mismatched decoration was a deliberate attempt by Coffeemin’s founders to create a sense of comfort.

“Unlike overly commercialised cafes, Coffeemin is intended for customers to feel like they are in their home,” said Coffeemin’s co-founder Jonathan Ye, 30.

PHOTO: TAN XIU QI

This ‘home away from home’ concept is also the reason why the cafe does not chase customers out, no matter how long they choose to stay. If the approximately 40-seater space is full, the cafe will turn away new patrons from entering.

“Just like your home, it doesn’t feel comfortable if it’s too crowded, so we are not going to crowd people in,” Mr Ye added.

Plans to open more outlets across Singapore are expected to ease the crowds. A second outlet in Suntec City will open later this month.

However, the urge to make one’s visit worth every cent may result in some customers hogging television consoles and consuming excessive amounts of food and drink. This leads to questions about the sustainability of Coffeemin’s concept.

But Mr Ye is not afraid that some customers may exploit the cafe’s offerings.

He said: “Coffeemin is a place to build a social community. We hope for people to take ownership, interact with each other and rotate around (the games).”

The activities are also “very basic entertainment”, said Mr Ye.

He cited their seven-feet pool table, which is markedly smaller than the usual pool table, as an example of how the cafe deters people whose sole purpose is to just play pool.

And it seems that customers are enjoying the cafe’s concept.

One customer, Mr Elliot Chan, 29, a researcher, who had spent one hour in Coffeemin and was looking to stay for a few more hours, said: “It is a pretty cool place, way cheaper than other places that have video games, and you can do anything you want here. I can play pool, Xbox, get free drinks, cookies and stay all day.”

A cafe that lets you stay as long as you want? Check. A cafe that serves free food and drinks? Check. A cafe that has all the amenities for an enjoyable time? Check. Coffemin might just be the next big thing in our burgeoning cafe industry.