Cup of Life: Chapter 1

It was quiet, almost eerily so, at Petronas R&R Ulu Bernam, the humble first location of our kiosk. Literally a year of planning, budgeting, and late-night discussions had led to this very moment. Our first coffee machine. Our first grinder. Our first beverage station. Our humble little iPad that works as a POS. And, of course, our first 'hut'. If anyone had seen our setup that night, they might have mistaken it for a temporary ​​pop-up meant for a short event—it hardly looked like a proper kiosk. Yet, for me, it was perfect. I whispered to myself, barely containing my excitement, “It’s finally done!”

What thrilled me most wasn’t just seeing the setup—it was the first time we switched on our machine, letting it hum to life, and watching our menu light glow softly in the dark. After a moment, Riz gave me a friendly pat on the shoulder. “Mir, we finally made it. Let me make our first coffee for the night!”. He moved over to the machine like he owned the place already, pulling an 8 oz latte with a grin. I had been training my taste buds for weeks, but up to this point, coffee just taste bitter to me. 

I took a sip. Huh. Not bad. Actually… pretty good. “So… what do you think?” Riz asked, leaning on the counter. “Excited for our grand opening tomorrow? Just so you know, the first few months could be a bumpy ride”. I shrugged with a small smile. “Yeah, you know what? Let’s go for it full heads on". We both laughed, and for a moment, the quiet night outside felt like it was cheering on us too. Just a cart, a couple of machines, and a lot of hope, but it felt like the start of something real.

As I’ve said before, opening your first company isn’t always glamorous, and it’s certainly not about luxury. People often see the celebration, the moment of success, but rarely the quiet hours of planning, reasoning, and taking that first uncertain step.

But one thing’s for sure — it was real, and it was ours.
And as the steam rises and the stories brew, I look forward to many more cups to serve, and stories to share.