ZUS Coffee eyes Sarawak coffee bean suppliers

KUCHING: ZUS Coffee, a tech-enabled Malaysian coffee chain, is keen to collaborate with Sarawak coffee bean suppliers to empower local farmers and showcase Malaysian-grown coffee beans.

ZUS Coffee Chief Operating Officer Venon Tian said the company plans to initiate discussions with the relevant ministry by the fourth quarter of this year to incorporate Sarawak’s homegrown coffee beans into its operations.

“When we first started, we had only one single bean, the Brazilian single origin. As we grew, we introduced a variety of beans, and people liked our products.

 “But often, we forget that Malaysia can also be a country that produces high-quality beans,” he told reporters after the launching ceremony of ZUS ‘Made in Malaysia’ Nationwide Tour here today (Aug 24).

Tian pointed out that while Malaysians are aware of the country’s cocoa production and exports, the potential of Malaysian-grown coffee is often overlooked.

He said last year, ZUS Coffee collaborated with Sabarica, a specialty coffee producer based in Sabah, to introduce Malaysian coffee beans into their offerings, though they faced some challenges.

“This year, we are thrilled that Sarawak is looking into empowering local coffee farmers. This presents a great opportunity for us, as one of the market leaders, to support these farmers and provide them with a platform to showcase their products.

“Often, what’s missing in business is the opportunity to display what you have, and that’s something we want to offer the community,” Tian added.

But he said no official collaborations have been established yet, adding that the process is still in progress.

“We have a team ready to explore the ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) aspects of this initiative. Stay tuned, as there will be more good news to come,” he added.

As for naming the new coffee blend, Tian stated that they are still undecided.

“We named our previous blends Lydia, after our first customer service representative, and Boss, for its strong kick. For this one, we’re considering names like Rich or Heritage —something that reflects the local flavour,” he said.