Imagine this: a cozy Bukit Jalil hideout where the smell of fresh espresso meets the fizz of homemade kombucha, and fur babies chill beside their hoomans. Welcome to Scooby Coffee and Booch Malaysia’s first kombucha cafe that’s rewriting the rules of what a cafe can be.
Born from lockdown boredom and wild creativity, 28-year-old Chester turned his Sydney barista days and a curious love for fermentation into one of Malaysia’s coolest F&B success stories. From pulling shots in Australia to brewing bacteria in his kitchen, he proved that the boldest ideas often bubble up when life hits “pause.”
☕ From Sydney Streets to SCOBY Dreams
Chester could’ve taken the safe route with his Finance & Management degree. But in Sydney, where baristas are practically celebrities, he found his true calling behind the coffee counter. When the pandemic sent him home to Malaysia, quarantine boredom led him to experiment with kombucha, the fizzy, gut-friendly tea that soon became his obsession.
What started as a home brew hustle quickly exploded online. With just savings from his Sydney shifts and a wild dream, he opened Scooby Coffee and Booch at 23. The name? A cheeky twist on SCOBY the “Symbiotic Culture of Bacteria and Yeast” that powers every bottle of booch.
Then came lockdown round two. Five days after opening, Malaysia shut down again. Instead of giving up, Chester pivoted online, turning his cafe into a kombucha delivery hit. “People couldn’t travel, so they splurged on local luxuries,” he laughs. “We were their small joy.”
🐶 Brewing Buzz, One Pup at a Time
When a furry influencer posted about Scooby, things went viral overnight. Suddenly, everyone wanted a coffee date with their pets. That one post transformed Scooby into Bukit Jalil’s go-to pet-friendly cafe, without a single paid ad.
But Scooby isn’t just “cute and cozy.” It’s constantly evolving. Gone are the fancy tartines; in are hearty rice bowls, creamy pastas, and the cult-favorite Salmon Ochazuke a Malaysian-Japanese comfort dish made with creamy dashi milk broth and overnight-simmered salmon bones. “Everyone pours tea; we pour flavor,” Chester grins.
The vibe? Warm maroon tones, easy smiles, and a team that remembers your name. “Food gets them in,” Chester says. “But the conversations and energy keep them coming back.”
💥 The Hustle Behind the Hype
Behind Scooby’s effortless charm is raw grit. Chester admits: “Running a cafe isn’t just latte art and cute dogs. It’s long hours, constant tweaking, and mental endurance.”
After burnout hit, he took a break only to realize F&B was where he truly thrived. Now, Scooby 2.0 stands stronger, proof that reinvention is the ultimate ingredient for success.
His advice to young dreamers? “Don’t just open a cafe because it’s trending. Know why. Track your money. Passion starts it, but purpose keeps it alive.”
🌈 Sip, Chill, Repeat The Scooby Way
Today, Scooby Coffee and Booch is more than a cafe, it’s a lifestyle. A place where kombucha lovers, coffee snobs, and pet parents collide. A reminder that sometimes, the best things in life are brewed slowly, with heart.
So if you’re ever in Bukit Jalil, stop by Scooby. Grab a booch flight, order that viral Salmon Ochazuke, and let your pup live its best life. Who knows your next big idea might just ferment right here.
👉 Follow @scoobycoffeeandbooch on Instagram for drool-worthy reels, fluffy guests, and Malaysia’s boldest brews.
✨ Because in the end, the best stories always start with one sip.
