It’s a popular side hustle, with some vendors even selling nasi lemak or biryani right from their cars.
But one young entrepreneur took it a step further. This is the story of how 26-year-old Siti Sarah went from car boot barista to café owner of Kopi Beetle.
“I started my business at the roadside with my own Volkswagen Beetle, selling coffee from the car boot in Seksyen 9, Shah Alam. That was in 2023. After one and a half years, I opened this café,” she told FMT Lifestyle.
Walk in and you’re instantly met by the front half of a classic white 1960s Volkswagen Beetle – yes, just casually parked inside the café.
Once inside, you’ll find the other half (the back end), cleverly turned into a seating area. To top it off, a blue Beetle mural stretches across the main wall.
Sarah, who studied business, started out working a basic desk job at her parents’ company. It was during this time that she noticed the growing car boot business trend.
“I came across another coffee seller operating from his Myvi car boot. The whole concept was yellow, from the car to the coffee machine. I thought it was quite unique,” she recalled.
When she shared this with her mum, they saw an opportunity: why not do the same, but with her white Beetle? Once owned by her father, the car was passed down to Sarah. That simple thought sparked the start of the business.
By day, she would drive the car to the office for her 9am–5pm job, and by night – from 8pm to midnight – she would open up the boot and set up her business with the help of her friends.
Sarah said that at first, crowds would gather out of curiosity, and the business also gained traction online thanks to its novelty factor.
“Usually, you don’t see a Beetle being used to sell coffee because it’s an ‘atas sikit’ car for business. So many customers would come just to take pictures,” she shared.
After a few months of running Kopi Beetle, they caught the attention of Volkswagen Malaysia, who later invited her to cater at several of their events.
While juggling both roles, Sarah realised she preferred the F&B industry more. “So, I quit my day job, and my hobby ended up becoming my career,” she said.
As her customers continued to grow, Sarah made the leap to open a café, with the support of her parents.
Every part of the café was envisioned by Sarah, including the vintage Beetle itself. She bought it for RM2,000, but ended up spending more than double to restore it, and cut it in half just to bring it into the eatery.
When Kopi Beetle first started out of the car boot, the menu was strictly focused on coffee and other specialty drinks.
Today, loyal customers still line up for many of the same drinks, including their signature Kopi Beetle – a caramel-flavoured latte topped with a layer of coffee cream. It’s a pleasant surprise and easily holds its own against some of the bigger coffee chains in the country.
Not much of a coffee person? Try the refreshing strawberry matcha, or other crowd-pleasers like the mango Yakult.
Now with a proper kitchen, the menu includes hot food items as well.
For something filling, the grilled chicken with mashed potato or beef alfredo are classics done right, with portions that are satisfyingly generous.
But FMT Lifestyle’s favourite? The hot and spicy wings – crispy fried chicken wings tossed in a punchy chilli oil, served with ranch dressing. They’re seriously addictive. Even after sitting on the table for a while, the crunch held up, and it’s not as spicy as it sounds.
There’s plenty more to try, from mac & cheese balls to hearty rice dishes. And while the car is no longer used for business, Sarah says it will always hold a special place in her heart.
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Kopi Beetle
27G, Jalan Tengku Ampuan Zabedah J 9/J
Seksyen 9
40100 Shah Alam
Selangor
For location, click here.
Business hours:
12pm-12am: Monday-Friday
3pm-12am: Saturday & Sunday