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Changes don’t happen if we don’t venture out to a new place or take the necessary steps to do things differently. Author Terry Pratchett said: “Why do you go away? So that you can come back. So that you can see the place you came from with new eyes and extra colors. And the people there see you differently, too. Coming back to where you started is not the same as never leaving.”
Every year over 20,000 young Malaysian students opt to further their education in Australia. Besides education, these young students are immersed in an entirely different culture which brings new ideas and perspectives about life. These graduates with a pioneering spirit will seize what they’ve discovered to either start a business or change their community. Recently, we had the honor to interview Jeremy Chan, a barely 30-year-old entrepreneur, founder and owner of Bean Reserve, and a trailblazer in the Kuala Lumpur specialty coffee scene.
Bean Reserve is a roaster, a cafe, and a haven for hard-core coffee lovers – a direct influence from the coffee culture in Melbourne Australia. Located in a converted bungalow in Bangsar, an affluent neighborhood in Kuala Lumpur, Bean Reserve’s neighbor happens to be The Co., a Singaporean-based co-working space company.
1. Can you tell our readers how you got started in the coffee shop business?
It all started when I was exposed to really good coffee while studying in Melbourne. When I moved back to Kuala Lumpur, I saw there was a market for it. Fueled by my passion for coffee, I decided to get into the coffee business. I wanted everyone to experience specialty coffee here in Malaysia like how I experienced it back in Melbourne and share my passion about coffee.
2. How long does it take from concept to the day you welcome your first customers?
3 to 6 months
3. Why coffee?
Malaysia is a coffee drinking nation, so why not? Instead of traditional coffee, we are serving specialty coffee.
4. How would you describe Bean Reserve and how is it different from other specialty coffee shops in Kuala Lumpur?
For this question, Jeremy quoted Bean Reserve’s about page:
Call it a vision, a dream, a purpose; coffee is our passion, and we are committed to the craft of roasting and brewing great coffee. We roast coffee and work with great people to do it, and our vision is to provide world-class coffee that will be a part of your daily life. As coffee is seasonal, we offer a variety of origins throughout the year. We believe in sourcing and roasting the finest beans to bring out their tastiest characteristics. With this focus in mind, we pledge to focus on quality and sustainability to give you great coffee.
Bean Reserve is an independent specialty coffee roaster and coffee purveyor based in Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur; that’s why aside from roasting coffee, we serve it. It is our core commitment to provide quality, innovation, and exceptional service, and we pride ourselves on being one of the pioneers of Nitro Cold Brew coffee in South-East Asia. We also offer single origin Chocolate and fresh Chai alongside our coffee beans that are made available for retail and wholesale purchase. Have a brew at our cafe and chat with us to find out more.
5. What is your favorite type of coffee?
My favorite type of coffee is Long Black. The reason being, I like it pure, so I’m able to taste the natural characteristic of the coffee that the farmers worked so hard to achieve.
6. What is one coffee gear (i.e., coffee machine, grinder, etc.) you must have at home?
To make a great cup at home, I need a hand grinder (all good coffee starts with freshly grounded coffee) and Clever Dripper (my preference because it’s easy and convenient to use).
7. What is the best coffee shop/s (besides Bean Reserve) you have ever been to, where and why?
Proud Mary in Melbourne, because of the friendly and energetic baristas that are willing to share their passion. Proud Mary really does a great job roasting and brewing transparent coffee.
Note: Proud Mary is at 172 Oxford St, Collingwood VIC 3066, Australia
8. When drinking coffee, do you have a favorite food/snack/dessert to eat, and why?
Snacks like pastries are always comforting and not too heavy where you still can taste the full flavor of coffee.
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9. Your favorite coffee book?
The World Atlas of Coffee: From Beans to Coffee Brewing- James Hoffman 2014.
10. What direction do you see the coffee industry going in, in the next 5 years? What is the next big trend in coffee?
Overall the coffee industry in Malaysia is growing with more people learning to appreciate specialty coffee. An alternative brewing method on the rise that is being introduced here in Malaysia is Nitro Coffee. Bean Reserve currently serve two types of Nitro Coffee, a Black and a White version.
Bean Reserve is at Bangsar, 8, Lengkok Abdullah, 59000 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
