Michael Jonathan Tan first entered the hospitality sector when he owned a franchised cafe, which is how he discovered his passion for coffee. He sold the cafe and began coffee roasting in his parent's garage. This hobby turned small business is what we now know as Meebz Coffee Roasters.
With his continuous pursuit of innovation and learning, Tan has explored various ways of creating different coffee flavours and products. Another factor contributing to his drive is the gratification received from customer satisfaction.
"Coffee brings people together, and roasting and selling coffee makes us a hub for social interaction," said Tan.
As the director of Meebz, Tan has ensured that the roastery is involved in community activities by sponsoring many of the local schools, sports clubs, events and charities, making them an iconic coffee spot in Milford.
Over the years, Meebz has also taken action to become more sustainable and use ethical business practices. Their big decision was investing in the Loring, a coffee roasting machine that recirculates gas and reduces carbon footprint.
Another step towards sustainability included compostable packaging, recycling waste and switching from plastic bottles to reusable milk drums.
Since Tan's personal preference is the flavour profile of African coffee, Meebz purchases a lot of coffee from Ethiopia, which also happens to be his dream travel destination.
"I've already travelled South America, and Africa is a little less accessible, especially Ethiopia, an important origin here at Meebz. I'd love to explore the country and the farms to understand farming and processing better."
A great roast is well-balanced with a good amount of sweetness, body and texture, and Tan advises upcoming coffee roasters to push boundaries by experimenting, testing and tasting to develop a palette.
With their unique roasting styles, Tan is excited about Meebz's new collection of rare, exotic, award-winning coffee beans available exclusively at their coffee bar.
