We go behind the counter of a social enterprise cafe, The Caffeine Experience, which provides ex-offenders with a chance to turn over a new leaf.
By Shoshana Phoebe & Nur Nadia Bte Muhd Zulkifli
Along the streets of Singapore, cafes are ubiquitous. Singaporeans love a good cafe experience. While many cafes compete for attention on the basis of good ambience, aesthetics as well as the quality of food and drinks served, one type of cafe stands out: Social Enterprise cafes.
Social Enterprise is defined as a business with social objectives, placing importance on the well-being of society. They seek to maximise profits while maximising benefits for disadvantaged groups of people at the same time. Some of the profits earned in these businesses may be used to fund social programs or contribute to a good cause. A social enterprise business may come in many different forms, and this includes cafes run by ex-convicts.
‘The Caffeine Experience’ is one such cafe. Tucked away in a convenient street near Tanjong Pagar MRT Station, The Caffeine Experience is a café that looks like any other. However, it is far from that – this café serves as a home to ex-offenders and youths at risk who are looking to turn over a new leaf and earn for themselves as well as their loved ones.
Located in the corner of the Outram Community Hospital, The Caffeine Experience is a popular hangout spot for the hospital staff to grab a quick meal. (Photo credits: Shoshana Phoebe)
Apart from the delicious that they offer, The Caffeine experience offers a chill and comfortable ambience perfect for customers looking for a break from their hectic lives. (Photo credits: Saulvinton Yeow)
In this café, customers are greeted with a great selection of menu options. From main dishes such as Smoked Salmon Brioche and Basil Pesto Chicken Fusilli to desserts such as Banana Custard Muffins and Rojak Pineapple waffles, they surely have something for everyone.
Not only does The Caffeine Experience offer scrumptious food, they have a variety of desserts that features their best selling burnt cheesecake that is popular amongst customers. (Photo credits: Nur Nadia Bte Muhd Zulkifli)
Priscilla Shantini (in photo) is one of the regular customers who enjoys the services and dishes provided by The Caffeine Experience. Her go-to order is their Earl Grey Hazelnut cake and Iced Latte. (Photo Credits: Priscilla Shantini)
The co-founder, Matthew Poh, 49, set up this café with the intention of providing ex-offenders with a second chance and help them reintegrate back into society. He believes that they would be able to do so given opportunities like this.
The Co-founder of The Caffeine Experience, Matthew Poh, is constantly inspired by his staff to keep the business going. (Photo credits: Saulvinton Yeow)
Matthew was an ex-offender himself who turned himself in due to drug addiction back in 2015, and Hillary Lo was a former prison officer when Matthew was incarcerated for a year. The two had come together to discuss about starting a social-cause cafe. Since then, they became business partners and established this cafe in April 2018. There has been no turning back ever since.
“When I went to prison, I was only sentenced for a year. On the contrary, my friends were sentenced up to 15 years. I think that God gave me a chance to survive through that. I was given a second chance myself, so I thought, ‘why not spend my next 14 years building this café?’” said Matthew.
Still standing strong after 2 years since it was launched, this café has helped about 10 ex-offenders so far, to get back on their feet after being incarcerated.
Not An Easy Feat
It was not an easy journey for Matthew Poh. As an ex-offender who has turned over a new leaf in hopes to build a home for other ex-offenders, Matthew’s biggest challenge would be gaining the trust of the people.
“People judge us all the time. I’ve been a businessman for 20 years and when I stepped into this realm, I realised that no matter what we do, some people look at us and say that we are doing bad” he explained.
Due to the stigma and prejudice surrounding ex-offenders, Matthew found it rather hard to gain people’s trust, especially his shareholders. The shareholders of the company continually questioned the reason why they should continue to lend a helping hand to such people, or what the shareholders referred to as ‘goonies’.
Previously, The Caffeine Experience had more than one outlet. However, with that kind of negative mindset on ex-offenders, a group of the company’s shareholders took out $170,000 and removed one of their outlets. Despite this being a big blow, Matthew never gave up. Instead, he showed resilience by pressing on and moving forward. Matthew continued running the cafe located at Outram Community Hospital, to continue providing jobs for his current staff.
Another challenge that Matthew faced was handling his cafes while taking care of his staff. Taking care of ex-offenders comes with its own sets of problems. Apart from work, they have their own issues that they need to deal with, that may come in the way of work. As a social-enterprise, one of Matthew’s responsibilities is to ensure the well-being of his staff and also to guide them, so that they can try to overcome their issues.
Shariff’s Story
One of those workers who was given a second chance is Shariff Hussain. Shariff, 31, is currently the Assistant Manager at The Caffeine Experience. Prior to incarceration and landing a job at this cafe, he led a very different life - carefree, filled with partying and constantly getting into trouble. Nothing had mattered to him apart from the gang he previously belonged to.
Although everything was fine at first, his carefree life was soon brought to an end when he got incarcerated in 2010 after being involved in a gang fight. Shariff spent nearly 10 years in prison. After his release last year, in the midst of searching for a job, he was introduced to The Caffeine Experience by a friend. After a year working there, Shariff got his current position in the cafe.
From an easy-going life with no prior experience working, Shariff has learnt many useful skills while working at the cafe, and undertakes the responsibilities given to him seriously. At the Caffeine Experience, every day is a new day of learning for him as he continues to expand his skill sets and knowledge.
“Just imagine this: A guy, left prison last year after manslaughter for 10 years. He came out, he hasn’t seen a phone before and doesn’t know how to handle things. Now, one year later, he’s still with us, and he has a girlfriend, he’s planning for his marriage and he’s our assistant manager. Such change in life for a person gives us the motivation to continue to do what we do,” said Matthew Poh.
When asked about his experience working at the café, this is what he said: “It is interesting! I have never made proper coffee before, so this is the first time I learnt how to prepare beverages like coffee”.
Meet the bar staff who never fail to impress the customers with their wide range of innovative drinks served at The Caffeine Experience. (Photo credits: Saulvinton Yeow)
Despite having a pleasant experience working at the café and having good relationships with his co-workers, there were some challenges that he faced. When asked what those challenges were, he mentioned that when his co-workers do not turn up to work or are running late, it increases the workload of the staff who have to step in to cover their shift. They would have additional tasks on top of their usual ones.
Another challenge he faced was when COVID-19 forced Singapore to implement a circuit breaker. The café had to close down for a few months, and was only reopened in August. Due to the need to find a way to earn an income to cover up basic expenses, Shariff had to help his friend with ad-hoc jobs.
Despite the obstacles placed in front of him, he never failed to look on the positive side of life.
Given that the cafe holds a purpose to give ex-offenders an opportunity to seek another chance, this is what Shariff said about how Matthew and the cafe have helped him so far: “They mostly provided moral support. He taught me to be more responsible and to understand the current situation. He told me that I should not try to back down. No matter what approaches me in life, I should take it slowly and I would be able to solve it. Don’t just back off, run away and start doing nonsensical stuff. This is the only thing I try to remember, and Matthew taught me that.
Changing the lives of his staff, impacting the lives of your co-workers, is the biggest reward for both Matthew and his staff. Changing the lives of these people and seeing the process of how they have changed compared to when they first started, acts as a motivation to continue to press on.
“Don’t worry, there are lots of opportunities down there. If you knock on a door and there’s no answer, go build your own door,” said Shariff.
Future Plans
Cafes like The Caffeine Experience have had a strong impact on many of their staff who are in need or are in unfavourable situations. Despite their past and mistakes made, the cafe will continue to be a safe space where they are accepted. Not only does it give them a chance to restart and change for the better, it also continues to equip them with the necessary skill set required for their jobs and encourage them to never give up.
Motivated by the impact of the cafe, Matthew has decided to expand The Caffeine Experience in Bouna Vista as part of their future plans. By doing so, he is hoping to be able to support even more ex-offenders and help to shape their lives positively. Those ex-offenders would be assigned to them by Singapore Corporation of Rehabilitative Enterprise (SCORE).
Currently, this expansion plan is still on hold because they are short of funds. Matthew is in the process of looking around to help them out with this matter. In the future, customers can expect to see more branches of this cafe and have the opportunity to try out their scrumptious food.
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