Additional Coverage:
- She was a sous chef at a Michelin restaurant. Her grandmother’s sudden dementia diagnosis made her rethink her career. (businessinsider.com)
From Michelin Stars to Matcha: Chef Opens Home-Based Café to Care for Grandmother
A former fine dining chef, Chia Jin Fang, has traded her 14-hour shifts at a three-Michelin-starred restaurant for a heartwarming venture: a cozy café in her Singapore apartment. This career shift was prompted by both burnout and a desire to care for her 86-year-old grandmother, who was recently diagnosed with dementia.
Stepping into Chia’s apartment, one is greeted by a simple wooden bar cart, a coffee station, and the warm aroma of freshly baked banana bread. Lunar New Year decorations still adorn the walls, adding a touch of homeyness to the space. It’s a far cry from the high-pressure environment of Les Amis, the renowned French restaurant where Chia honed her culinary skills.
Chia’s journey began with a culinary arts education and an internship at Les Amis, which blossomed into a full-time position in 2016. While she thrived on the creativity and access to top-quality ingredients, the demanding schedule took its toll.
“I’d leave the house at 6:30 a.m. and only be back home at midnight,” Chia, 29, shared. Weekends were spent recovering, leaving little time for anything else.
Her grandmother’s dementia diagnosis was a turning point. Chia left Les Amis in March to become her grandmother’s primary caregiver.
“It feels like the roles are reversed now,” Chia reflected. While she felt a pang of regret at leaving a successful career, she knew it was the right decision.
Despite Singapore’s high rental costs, Chia’s entrepreneurial spirit led her to create The Noob Coffee, a charming home-based café. Investing SG$7,000 in equipment, she transformed her family’s dining area into a welcoming space for coffee lovers. “I named it The Noob Coffee because I’m a noob to drinks,” she admitted, highlighting her transition from haute cuisine to handcrafted beverages.
The Noob Coffee boasts a simple menu of classic coffees and unique matcha creations, priced affordably at around SG$5. Her Earl Grey matcha and strawberry yogurt matcha are customer favorites, perfectly complementing her homemade banana cake.
Word of mouth and social media have fueled the café’s popularity, with Chia serving over 100 drinks daily on weekdays and over 200 on weekends. Customers appreciate not only the delicious drinks but also the chance to chat with Chia’s grandmother, who enjoys interacting with guests.
The Noob Coffee represents more than just a business for Chia; it’s a way to balance her passion with her family responsibilities. It allows her to connect with her community, create something of her own, and provide a loving environment for her grandmother.
“I cannot cure her dementia,” Chia acknowledged, “but I can slow its progress down.” And in doing so, she’s found a recipe for happiness and fulfillment that no Michelin-starred restaurant could offer.