Salleharon explains to reporters the steps in preparing a cup of pour-over coffee during the session at Starbucks Plaza Merdeka.
KUCHING: Berjaya Starbucks Coffee Company Sdn Bhd continues to eye small towns and districts across the country as potential sites for its outlet expansion going forward.
According to its senior manager of public affairs and digital strategy (Malaysia and Brunei) Salleharon Ahmad, the company, which manages Starbucks stores in Malaysia and Brunei, has been exploring many small towns and identifying several locations as viable sites for its store expansion in Malaysia, adding that the list of criteria is based on demand and the location itself.
“We opened up stores in places like Manjung (Perak), Muar (Johor), Bintulu and Kota Samarahan.
“For your information, Manjung is a fishermen town.
“We’re surprised to see the encouraging response from customers at these outlets.
“As such, these small, semi-rural areas will continue to become key areas as far as Starbucks Malaysia’s expansion plan is concerned,” he told reporters at the start of Starbucks’ ‘Pour-Over Session with the Media’ at its outlet in Plaza Merdeka here yesterday.
Presently, the company manages over more than 120 stores nationwide – 12 of them in Sarawak where the team had just opened a new store at Jalan Pedada in Sibu, said Salleharon.
“This (Sibu) outlet comes after the opening in Bintulu last September.
“So far, the response has been very positive,” he said.
In replying to a question by a reporter about the possibility of having a drive-thru outlet in Sarawak just like those in Peninsular Malaysia, Salleharon reiterated that Starbucks Malaysia would always be looking any opportunity to expand.
“This includes having drive-thru outlets in Sarawak – if there are suitable locations and the demand is there,” he said, adding that currently the company has over 20 drive-through outlets.
On yesterday’s session, Salleharon said it was to introduce ‘pour-over’ brewing method to local coffee-lovers.
He said the brewing method first became available at the ‘Reserve Starbucks Store’ in The Gardens, Kuala Lumpur in October last year.
For Sarawak, the Plaza Merdeka outlet would be the first to offer ‘pour-over’ coffee, he added.
“I believe that now, coffee-lovers here have another option when it comes to enjoying their favourite beverage.
What makes ‘pour-over’ different from the normal pressed variety is that customers get to choose their own favourite beans.
“Pour-over coffee is also customised to be served per cup, giving customers a more personalised experience,” he said.
Another difference, said Salleharon, was the preparation of pour-over coffee.
“Pour-over coffee is prepared only by a certified Starbucks coffee master – a fully-trained barista who does not only make for you a flavourful cup, but also relates to you the story behind each brew.
You can easily identify a Starbucks coffee master by his or her apron – it’s black instead of the regular green,” said Salleharon, who is a Starbucks coffee master himself.
Currently, the pour-over brew is only available at selected Starbucks stores nationwide, including The Gardens and Plaza Merdeka outlets.