You SHOULD sell Strawberry Matcha Latte when you're starting out your home cafe in Singapore

Starting a home café is exciting, but it can also be challenging to stand out in Singapore's bustling food scene. While you should absolutely offer items that showcase your unique style and talents, there's a strong case for including a few trendy items like the Strawberry Matcha Latte in your initial menu.

Your menu needs both magnets and signatures

Think of your menu as having two key components:

Recruiter items draw new customers to your doorstep. These trend-driven offerings create buzz and get people curious about what you're serving.

Loyalization items keep customers coming back. These are your signature creations that reflect your unique style, family recipes, or special techniques.

The most successful home cafés understand this balance. They use popular items to attract attention but convert first-time visitors into regulars with their distinctive offerings.

Why Strawberry Matcha Latte works as a recruiter

The Strawberry Matcha Latte has become a sensation in Singapore's café scene, and for good reason:

It's visually stunning. Those distinct layers of vibrant green matcha and pink strawberry create an immediately Instagrammable moment. When customers share photos of your creation, they're essentially providing free marketing.

The flavor combination has broad appeal. The earthy notes of matcha balanced with sweet strawberry offers something familiar yet interesting.

It signals that you're current. Offering this trendy item shows that your home café is tuned into what's happening in the food scene.

Establishments like Spring Coffee and Ichigo by Tea Cottage have seen how this beverage draws customers in – many of whom then explore other menu items.

Starting with trends doesn't mean lacking originality

Some home bakers and café owners worry that offering trendy items somehow diminishes their authenticity. That couldn't be further from the truth.

Your version of a Strawberry Matcha Latte can still be distinctly yours. Perhaps you use a special grade of matcha powder, add a unique spice blend, or create a homemade strawberry compote rather than using commercial syrup.

The trend gets them in the door, but your personal touch makes the experience memorable.

Building your menu strategically

When planning your home café menu, consider this approach:

Start with 2-3 recruiter items that are currently popular. These create immediate interest and give new customers a familiar entry point to your offerings.

Include 3-4 loyalization items that showcase your unique talents and perspective. These become your signature offerings that customers can't get anywhere else.

Rotate seasonal specials that let you experiment with new ideas while keeping your menu fresh and exciting.

The beauty of this approach is that today's trendy recruiter item (like the Strawberry Matcha Latte) might evolve into tomorrow's signature creation as you put your unique spin on it.

Listen to what the market tells you

One of the advantages of starting with a mix of trendy and unique items is that you quickly learn what resonates with your customer base.

You might find that your Strawberry Matcha Latte brings people in, but they keep coming back for your unique Pandan Gula Melaka cookies. Or perhaps your special Hojicha Cold Brew becomes unexpectedly popular.

This feedback helps you refine your menu to emphasize what works best for your specific audience.

The strawberry matcha strategy in action

A home café owner in Tampines shared her experience: "I started with the Strawberry Matcha Latte because it was trending, but I made it my own by using premium ceremonial matcha and fresh strawberry purée instead of syrup. It got people's attention on Instagram, and many first-time customers ordered it."

"But what keeps them coming back is my Gula Melaka Sea Salt cold brew, which is my unique creation. Now I have customers who discovered me through the matcha latte but message me specifically to reserve the cold brew."

This is the perfect example of using a recruiter item to introduce customers to your loyalization offerings.

Evolving beyond the trends

As your home café establishes a loyal following, you'll have more freedom to focus on your signature creations. The recruiter items have done their job of bringing customers through the door, and your unique offerings have won their loyalty.

At this point, you might even find that your original creations become the new "must-try" items that people seek out specifically.

Your path to home café success

Starting a home café doesn't mean choosing between following trends and being authentic. The smartest approach embraces both:

Use trendy items strategically to attract attention and new customers Convert those first-time visitors into regulars with your unique offerings Listen to feedback and adapt your menu accordingly Let your personal story and passion shine through in everything you create

At acuppa.app, we've seen this strategy work time and again for home food entrepreneurs across Singapore. The Strawberry Matcha Latte might be what first gets customers curious about your home café, but your passion and creativity are what will keep them coming back.

What trendy items have you incorporated into your home café menu? Share them with the world on acuppa.app