Election campaign brews brisk business for Johor coffee maker

BATU PAHAT: While candidates criss-cross Johor on the campaign trail ahead of Saturday’s election, one local entrepreneur is enjoying a different kind of buzz – a surge in demand for his coffee.

For Aziz Mohd, 65, better known as Pak Ajes, the heightened activity has translated into brisk business for the family-run coffee company he has spent more than three decades building.

The founder and chairman of Aziz Coffee Trading said production has doubled to keep up with orders, many of them from campaign teams working across constituencies including Semerah, Sungai Balang and Bukit Naning.

“I’m grateful for the election windfall as it doesn’t come often. My son and I made early preparations after being contacted in advance by several parties from the candidates’ side.

“We even had to source coffee beans from as far as Rengit, and some from Kluang, to cope with the high demand. Alhamdulillah, everything has gone smoothly so far,” he told Bernama.

Aziz’s coffee journey began in 1991, when he started processing coffee beans for his own use and for friends who ran beverage stalls. What began as a small operation has since grown into a thriving family business.

Before venturing into coffee, he raised quail for eggs and cultivated mushrooms. He used about RM200 earned from those businesses to launch his first coffee-powder products in 100g packets.

Today, Aziz Coffee Trading produces around 1,500 packets of Liberica, Robusta and Arabica coffee powder daily, supplying customers not only across Johor but also in East Malaysia, Brunei and Singapore.

The business produces more than five tonnes of coffee powder each month and regularly supplies coffee shops in Batu Pahat and Muar. It has become the family’s main source of income.

Aziz said producing quality coffee requires patience at every stage, from separating the beans and removing their husks to drying them in the sun for around 15 days before roasting, grinding and packaging.

“Packaging also requires great care because the coffee powder can easily spill and must not be exposed to air for too long, as it can harden and clump,” he said.

In 2022, Aziz and his 22-year-old son Muhammad Fitri opened an offshoot venture, Kupi Nang Ajes Café, in front of their home, serving drinks such as Americanos and lattes at affordable “kampung” prices.

They now hope to open a second outlet in Batu Pahat or Muar before eventually expanding the brand nationwide.

Aziz also credited the agriculture department for supporting the business with equipment including a coffee grinder and coffee bagging machine, as well as training in packaging and product labelling.