The Disappearing Kopitiam Drink Runners: Why You Rarely See Them Anymore

If you’ve been to a kopitiam recently, you might have noticed something missing—those familiar drink stall uncles and aunties who used to come around taking orders at your table.

A Redditor in r/askSingapore pointed this out, recalling how in the past, you could barely sit down before someone came by asking, “Teh si peng?” or “Kopi o kosong?” But now, you’re mostly left to order drinks yourself at the counter.

What happened? Was it a shift in business practices, or did something else cause the change?

Why Drink Stall Runners Are Disappearing

Many Singaporeans chimed in with practical reasons why this kopitiam tradition is fading away.

1. The Cashless Shift

Digital payments have transformed how we buy food and drinks. Previously, ordering from your seat meant paying in cash immediately, which worked fine when everyone carried spare change. But now?

"Now almost every payment is digital. If uncle comes to you, you need to pay cash. Easier to just use GrabPay or PayLah at the counter."
— u/Cute-Organization844

Some suggested that kopitiam drink runners could carry a QR code with them for payments, but it seems like few places have implemented this.

"TBH, they can just carry a copy of the QR code in their fanny pack, and patrons can still do digital payment at their table."
— u/shiningject

2. The Rise of Self-Service Models

Many modernized coffeeshops—especially those under large chains like Kopitiam and Koufu—no longer have drinks runners. Instead, you order drinks at the counter, get a buzzer, and pick up your drink yourself.

"Kopitiam chain don’t have drinks runners. Maybe some standalone ones like S11 still have, but most places have shifted to self-service."
— u/highdiver_2000

For businesses, this cuts down labor costs and reduces wait times for customers. Instead of runners moving around collecting orders and shouting them across the kopitiam, you go straight to the stall and place your order.

"They moved to self-service. It’s easier and faster for the stall owners."
— u/Mediocre-Lopuat-69

But not everyone is happy about this change.

"I preferred the runners. At least I didn’t have to queue up. The shouting across the kopitiam had its own charm—kind of like how Japanese restaurants yell to welcome you."
— u/Mediocre-Lopuat-69

3. Manpower Issues and Cost Cutting

Finding staff willing to take on kopitiam work is becoming more difficult. Many of the older drink stall uncles and aunties have retired or simply stopped working due to age. Hiring new workers for this role isn’t cheap, and many businesses are looking for ways to cut costs.

"Many hawkers still do it, but probably due to lack of manpower (whether it’s cost or difficulty hiring), we see less of them now."
— u/SnooGuavas9106

One user noted that runners don’t earn much—it’s often a commission-based system.

"They earn 10 cents per order, IIRC."
— u/Jammy_buttons2

When every additional worker adds to operating costs, kopitiams may see drink stall runners as unnecessary—especially when most people are willing to queue at the counter anyway.

4. Reducing Noise Complaints

An unexpected reason for fewer drink stall runners? Noise complaints.

If you’ve spent enough time in a traditional kopitiam, you’ll remember the shouted drink orders echoing across the space.

"There is another factor—noise reduction. It’s a common complaint that drink stall runners shouting orders can get too loud."
— u/highdiver_2000

Removing drink runners means less shouting, which keeps things quieter for diners—especially in more gentrified neighborhoods where newer residents might not appreciate the traditional kopitiam atmosphere.

Some Customers Still Prefer Drink Runners

While many Singaporeans don’t mind ordering at the counter, some miss the convenience of having someone take their drink order at the table.

"I’ll go against the flow and say I prefer runners. Especially if I’m dining alone. I don’t want to leave my food unattended, worry about birds, or have people messing with my food."
— u/coalminer071

For solo diners, it’s a real issue. You either secure a seat first and risk your food being disturbed, or order first and struggle to find a table. Drink runners helped solve this problem by allowing people to settle in before ordering.

"I always dine alone, so once I find a seat, I don’t want to leave it. If there’s no runner, I often just skip ordering a drink."
— u/Spartandemon88

On the other hand, some find self-service more efficient.

"I prefer ordering at the counter. If I don’t want a drink, I just say no—no awkward staring from the uncle like I offended his entire family."
— u/elchico1990

So, Will Drink Stall Runners Disappear Completely?

Probably not completely, but they are becoming rarer. In most newer or renovated kopitiams, the self-service model is already the norm.

However, some older, traditional kopitiams may still keep drink runners—especially in places where cash payments are still the default.

But as Singapore continues its push towards digital payments, and businesses look for ways to cut costs, the days of having someone come to your table and take your kopi order may soon be a thing of the past.

So, if you still see an uncle or auntie taking drink orders, maybe appreciate it a little more—it’s a dying tradition.