A few years ago, my friends Muzhir and Amber had an idea of selling coffee. They both wanted to start a hobby together while meeting new people. I’ve known Muzhir since I was 12, seeing him and Amber work towards this dream of setting up a coffee empire changed him for the better. He was determined, hardworking and passionate. A new side of Muz that I had never seen before.
They started small. I remember being back in KL for one of my summer breaks and we went to a few places to find paper cups. One of their first gigs was a paint ball match somewhere in PJ and we woke up early in the morning to set up the kiosk at the venue. Spending the day with them taught me that it wasn’t easy doing something ‘simple’ like selling coffee. Amber was constantly teaching herself how to improve the drinks, she was always experimenting. Muz was resilient when it came to the customers, so many would come at the same time and sometimes it was so quiet you could hear crickets.
That day, as I was driving us all home, I looked through the rear view mirror because everyone went all quiet. True enough, Muz and Amber were completely passed out at the back of the car. I smiled to myself because even though they were exhausted, they worked so hard that day. I knew they would make it one day.
2 years later, they told me that they were finally opening a cafe . Seeing how they have pulled through over the years with ups and downs, I couldn’t have been happier for them.
Cat in the Box cafe is one of the cosiest places I know. It had tall, broad windows, you could see everything outside. The environment was rustic, everything you wanted to drink was personally written by the on the colourful chalkboard, there were board games everywhere, bean bags on the floor and Amber’s playlist of soothing music for the cafe is always A+.
I remember throwing Joe a surprise birthday party on their rooftop. This cafe was hands down one of my favourite places ever.
Over the years I witnessed how much my friends grew up while their coffee brewing skills just became better and better. So when I found out the they were closing up, it was pretty difficult to digest it all in until I met Amber and Muz to say goodbye to this perfect place.
Life goes on, things happen that is beyond your control, and sometimes the smartest thing you can do is weigh out all the options and decide what you think its best for yourself and the business.
Just before leaving that cafe for the last time, I didn’t feel sad or dissapointed, I felt so proud because of the amazing journey my friends had and how much they have grown. The most important thing is that they tried their absolute best and they built something out of nothing. They did it.
Who knows, Cat in the Box may be back one day, and when they do come back, I have no doubt that it will be better than ever.
Muz and Amber, thank you for the coffee over the years. See you cofeecats soon.
YANAKAZMAN 