Start-up cracks clogging challenge in coffee vending machines to serve kopi 24/7
Kopi Near Me’s breakthrough was recognised at the inaugural IP for Growth Awards, with the company named an emerging champion in the food technology category.
Singapore-based startup Kopi Near Me has developed a solution to the longstanding issue of clogging in coffee vending machines that serve Nanyang-style coffee, or kopi, 24/7. Traditional machines designed for Western coffee often spoil after dispensing 10 to 20 cups of kopi due to the sticky, hard caramelised residue produced when kopi beans are roasted with sugar and butter.
Kopi Near Me addressed this problem by customizing conventional vending machines using proprietary recipes and brewing processes, patented as trade secrets. The company received recognition at the inaugural IP for Growth Awards on August 25, being named an emerging champion in the food technology category. Since launching its first coffee machines at the end of 2024, Kopi Near Me has deployed 170 machines across various locations, including office pantries, eateries, shipyards, and army camps.
The founder, Leow Jun Heng, 27, highlighted that the machines also tackle the manpower challenge of finding skilled individuals to prepare Nanyang coffee. The startup kept its coffee recipes and brewing process as trade secrets to avoid potential patent infringement issues, especially overseas.
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