In the wake of the pandemic, a wave of layoffs has left countless individuals unemployed, with job seekers struggling to secure employment in the ongoing economic downturn. In response, many have resorted to taking on multiple jobs, some juggling several positions simultaneously, all in a bid to bolster their income and ensure their financial stability.
Allow us to introduce Mohamad Hazreel Mazlan, a 31-year-old resident of Taman Melawati, Selangor. In early June of this year, he embarked on a coffee venture, delighting patrons with his aromatic brew at lujayns_coffee.
By day, Hazreel works at a trading company, but when night falls, he becomes a coffee aficionado, running his own coffee business out of his car's trunk. He's doing it all to save up for his wedding, and let's face it, managing two jobs isn't a walk in the park!
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How did his idea come about?
Before embarking on his coffee business, he was a part-time e-hailing driver. Thanks to his indulgence in cafe hopping which enabled him to meet the owner of Kopi Rumah who also used his car boot to run his business. The owner shared valuable insights with him on what it takes to be a coffee enterprise.
Hazreel invested about RM15,000 as his source of capital to buy a coffee maker, espresso machine, coffee grinder, and a small generator and this sums up the start-up capital for the launch of his own business.
Does it seem like a hefty undertaking? While it may appear demanding to some, the truth is that starting a business always necessitates a reasonable amount of initial capital.
Hazreel also took advantage of the opportunity to conduct thorough research and explore similar businesses operating throughout Malaysia. With the easy accessibility of online resources, he turned to platforms like YouTube and online literature to enhance his understanding of the intricacies of launching a startup and the various coffee-making techniques.
During this time, he received encouragement from supportive friends who motivated him to explore this innovative coffee business concept.
In essence, Hazreel's commitment to comprehensive research is commendable. He went above and beyond by personally exploring different locations and observing how entrepreneurs managed their businesses from their car trunks. It's clear that his dedication and hard work deserve recognition, don't you think?
What ingredients does he use?
The ingredients include two types of coffee beans, one which is imported from Ethiopia in Africa and the other from Columbia, South America. Every month, Hazreel will roast and grind approximately 13-40 Kg of coffee beans. As such, a delectable taste of coffee can be enjoyed for it tastes sweet where the sweetness isn’t from sugar but from the coffee bean itself.
Of the variety of coffee served, caramel macchiato and Irish cream coffee are the bestsellers making his customers want more!
@lujaynscoffee Unperfect but try to be perfect 🫶🏻 . Credit ; @Adam Ashar #coffeebreak #latteart #fypforyoupage ♬ Once Again - Amsyarleee
The DIY Cafe - All By Himself
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Designed in an open concept, coffee lovers can have their sips of coffee, and enjoy the taste of it. While it may not be a pleasing and comfy one like the indoor cafes, they still can indulge in their favorite coffee and embrace the beauty of the night sky.
Using a Honda CRV as his family car, his coffee machine and grinder are placed appropriately and accordingly on a wooden pallet inside the boot of the car, and that requires only 15 minutes to set up and be ready for business.
The challenges of running his coffee business
@lujaynscoffee shift malam dengan menjual kopi , jemput singgah 🤎 #partimejob #caramelmacchiato #mobilecoffeebar #kopimelawati #wangsamelawatikl #roadsidestall #kualalumpur ♬ original sound - tujuh_cafe
After operating for several months, various challenges he encountered like finding a suitable location and dealing with the rainy weather since it is located in an open environment.
Though heavy rain impacts his business operation, he still remains optimistic and always seeks to find other possible ways to diminish the problems he faces making sure the external situations do not override his business.
But worse still, the unpredictable number of sales is another ongoing problem he encountered because at a certain time, he is able to sell 20 cups but there are other times he could only sell 10 cups. He added that probably it is due to the short operating hours which lasted for four hours only and that it operates at night. Therefore, such circumstances don't really welcome more business.
A piece of advice from Hazreel
He said youth must be courageous enough to venture into business despite running their own business encompassing numerous obstacles of ups and downs. He furthered on by saying "When we face difficulties, we have a choice of quitting or carrying on with unwavering determination. Choosing the latter can lead us towards extraordinary achievements."
Hazreel indeed has worked through his bones and his biggest hope is that one day he can have a proper cafe which is based on his own concept.
Here are the details about the operating hours, location as well as the pricing value:
Operating Hours
Monday - Saturday at 8pm to 12pm (closed on every Sunday)
Location
Myride Bespoke Wangsa Setia
Jalan Wangsa Setia 1, Wangsa Melawati,
53300 Kuala Lumpur.
Pricing Value
RM7-RM13 (depending on the type of coffee you ordered)
Would you like to be like Hazreel to have your own business at night while working a full-time job in the daytime?
Are you feeling inspired by his idea and motivation for his coffee business?
Comment below, alternatively, follow us for more!
*Sources: Visual and Reference Credits to Social Media, Bernama & various cross-references for context.
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