There are established rules regarding the minimum legal age to work in Singapore, and it is governed by the Employment Act and the Employment (Children and Young Persons) Regulations. According to the employment act, anyone above 13 is allowed to work in any nonindustrial setting, like cafés and restaurants.

Working part-time in coffee shops is popular, especially for students, as they can easily control their working schedule. Some stores are open for 24 hours to accommodate people working late or those who just want to grab coffee before going home. Therefore, students can come in after their classes and work for a couple of hours to earn extra allowance.

To properly run a coffee shop, all employees—from the baristas to the servers—should have training. This preparation need not be skill-specific and can start by teaching them how to be efficient.

Time management and multitasking skills are needed when you work in a café. Most customers come in early to have their coffee in the morning. They may be in a rush, so being able to serve their orders as soon as possible is a great service you can offer.

Moreover, as a server, you might be given multiple tasks at once. Sometimes, you have to bring an order to a customer while you are in the middle of cleaning up another table. Proper training on what you should prioritise and what tasks can wait can help you overcome this hurdle.

Familiarising yourself with different coffee machines and equipment will also be useful for your job. Although you might not have to operate some of these machines, it is a great addition to your skill set. Knowing how to maintain these pieces of equipment is also a plus for owners since they can entrust you to keep these machines in optimal condition.

Every business that requires rendering actual customer service expects its applicants to have a pleasing personality. Being surrounded by employees who have a pleasing personality adds to their whole customer experience in your shop.

More than having good coffee, cafés also serve a selection of food. Having food preparation expertise is a skill that employers require in order to provide delectable dishes and desserts to customers.


Food prep is not limited to knowing how to cook the menu. It includes ensuring the cleanliness of the food preparation area as well as the timeliness and manner of serving.

Cashiers and server positions are the most common café jobs you can find in Singapore. They are expected to talk to customers during shifts.

Being competent enough to address customer concerns and properly get their orders will show that you are qualified for the job. Having this skill can also help you become a better team player. Communication with your colleagues will also help you work more effectively and productively.

Working in a café requires you to collaborate with different employees—from baristas to managers. Creating meaningful work relationships with them will lighten the workload you have and result in higher productivity for all employees.

Nowadays, cafés are becoming combinations of coffee shops and restaurants. They serve dishes and desserts, which are prepared by chefs. As a chef, you should be creative when it comes to coming up with food that complements the beverages served by the coffee shop. The menu should be flexible enough to go well with smoothies, iced coffee, and more.

If you want to be a cashier in a coffee shop, you should be able to handle transactions quickly and accurately. Aside from having basic math and computation skills, you also have to communicate well as you will be taking the customers' orders. Getting their drinks and food right is your main goal.

Baristas are the heart of a coffee shop. They have the biggest responsibilities, and it takes hard work and a lot of training to be a competent candidate. They are tasked to prepare hot and cold drinks depending on what the customers order.

Furthermore, some coffee shop owners give baristas the freedom to experiment and create their own coffee recipes. Hence, if you plan to be one, you should be creative and open to making new flavourful beverages.

Like any other shop, general work and maintenance should be done. These are part of a server's job. After getting the orders to customers, they are expected to clean up tables, arrange chairs, and maintain the cleanliness of the shop. If you want to be one, you should possess excellent multitasking skills to finish all given work.

Cashiers and server positions are the most common café jobs you can find in Singapore. They are expected to talk to customers during shifts.

Being competent enough to address customer concerns and properly get their orders will show that you are qualified for the job. Having this skill can also help you become a better team player. Communication with your colleagues will also help you work more effectively and productively.

Someone has to oversee the operations and manage the staff of a café—this is the work of a supervisor. They are responsible for making sure there is a proper workflow among employees.

Moreover, supervisors have to monitor the quality of their coffee and food. This means they have to constantly communicate with chefs and baristas to see where they need to improve further.

Lastly, they need to ensure that all sales are recorded accurately to generate reports that will be given to their higher-ups.