Kerja Kopi
"Raise pay quality for cafe workers by putting real hourly rates in the open, so shops compete for people."
The Core Idea
Kerja Kopi is a two-sided app for Malaysian cafe work: connecting cafe owners who need shifts filled with baristas who need their craft recorded and paid fairly.
Phase 1 is not simply about job postings—it is a dedicated craft record and profile builder where baristas save daily shifts, showcase latte art, dial-in notes, and own a verifiable public handle. Hiring turns on later against an engaged, active community.
What Problem We Are Solving
Pay Sits Near The Floor
Cafe hiring is stuck in social media DMs, WhatsApp groups, and walk-ins. Base pay sits at ~RM1,700 (RM8.72/hr) against living wage benchmarks of RM3,100. Many posts don't even display hourly rates.
No Verifiable Profile
After 6–12 months on the bar, baristas still have no trusted portfolio an owner can verify—only an unstandardized CV, scattered Instagram stories, or forwarded messages.
High Turnover & Gap Shifts
Cafe owners scramble to find reliable shift cover and vetted talent. Traditional job boards charge hefty corporate fees ill-suited for independent cafe economics.
Early Opportunities & Market Sizing
By focusing strictly on the specialty-leaning segment first rather than the entire F&B register, Kerja Kopi establishes high cultural trust among top baristas and reputable cafes, creating organic supply-demand pull before expanding into cafe suppliers and broader operations.
App Phases & Strategic Roadmap
Worker-First Craft Record
- → Build personal experience profile like a simple resume.
- → Daily shift log: latte art, plating, bar pass, station cleanliness.
- → Personal craft shelf & unique shareable public handle.
Cafe Owner Hiring Board
- → Verified cafe owners post job vacancies with public hourly rates.
- → End-to-end hiring pipeline & candidate screening.
- → AI-powered onboarding tailored for cafe workflows.
Ecosystem & AI Operations
- → Include cafe suppliers (beans, syrups, tools) within the ecosystem.
- → AI-powered roster scheduling & dynamic shift optimization.
- → Specialty coffee community benchmarks & wage analytics.
Interested in partnering or developing Kerja Kopi?
