Two months ago, the 37-year-old father of four opened G Coffee in Bandar Baru Tumpat, Kelantan. His decision was not solely driven by a passion for coffee but the potential he saw in the growing café culture.
In a recent interview with Bernama, Tuan Azizi said he had long dreamed of owning a café but lacked the confidence to embark on this venture as he had to focus on his family and photography work.
“I finally decided to do it because, apart from wanting to challenge myself, I realised that continuing long-term as a photographer might be difficult since my business relies heavily on my skills.
“On the other hand, with a physical business like a café, I have something I can pass down to my children in the future,” he said, adding he would continue offering his services as a photographer until his café business stabilised.
Tuan Azizi learnt the art of coffee-making informally nearly seven years ago, relying on YouTube tutorials and guidance from friends in the field. He dabbled in methods ranging from the Moka pot and French press to commercial machines.
“I also went on trips to taste various types of coffee crafted by other entrepreneurs to learn and gain insights,” he said, adding that in 2021, when the Movement Control Order was enforced, he sold bottled coffee from home.
A mechanical engineering graduate from Universiti Teknologi Mara, Tuan Azizi said he invested about RM60,000 into his café, mainly for renovations and equipment purchase. He did 90% of the remodelling works, such painting and cementing, himself.
Today, his establishment has six workers, and offers over 30 types of coffee using Brazil Cerrado beans, in addition to more than 20 western dishes priced between RM4 and RM28.
Tuan Azizi shared that popular coffee choices include matcha strawberry, matcha onde-onde, and caramel iced latte; while his signature western dishes include the crispy fried chicken chop, spicy seafood aglio olio, and smash burger.
Learn more about G Coffee on Facebook and Instagram.
G Coffee
PT 3598, Jalan Bandar,
Kampung Kelong,
16200 Tumpat, Kelantan