When you think of Coffeeboy Club, the first thing that comes to mind isn’t just the coffee — even if that’s what brings people through the door at first.
It’s the community they’ve built that truly stands out. The kind that doesn’t feel forced, but forms naturally — through shared spaces, familiar faces, and a genuine love for culture.
Co-founders Bryan and Danial didn’t set out to create a typical café. There was no master plan. Just a three-month experiment to see if people would come in for coffee — and stay. What started as a simple idea quickly turned into something much more: a creative space that blends coffee, fashion, music, and connection in its own effortless way.
And this is their story.
Starting Coffeeboy Club Without a Plan
Before Coffeeboy Club became what it is today, it was just an idea — one that Bryan and Danial decided to try out with no expectations. Bryan came from a creative and branding background, while Danial’s journey into F&B took a more unconventional route.
While studying accounting and finance in Melbourne, Danial picked up part-time stints at two different cafés. That early exposure to café culture planted the seed. After graduating, he worked in finance for two years before taking a leap of faith in 2012 — joining the starting team at Podgy & The Banker in Sri Hartamas as a barista. From there, his love for the industry only grew.
Coffeeboy Club’s first location was tucked inside The Gasket Alley, then known more as a biker hangout. The space was inherited from a previous business, but over time, they reshaped it into something that felt personal — a minimalist, Japanese kissaten-style café that reflected their shared love for design, coffee, and culture.
The setup was simple, and the plan was temporary. They only intended to test the waters with a 3-month trial — just to see if people wanted coffee there at all.
“When we opened the shop, it’s like, first three months, we’re going to sell coffee. If people don’t want coffee here, why bother?”
There was no grand vision, no fancy launch plan. But within those first few months, something clicked — and they decided to keep going.
The Identity and Growth of Coffeeboy Club
From the beginning, Coffeeboy Club wasn’t just about coffee. It was about expression. Bryan and Danial built the brand around the things they loved — fashion, music, lifestyle — and used the café as a medium to bring it all together.
“Basically, it’s like all our interests into one identity,” said Bryan.
Fashion played a big part in that. Not only was it something they both enjoyed, it was also a way to make the café relevant to different communities. “Fashion kind of like speaks to multiple community groups, right? There’s sports fashion, there’s active wear now. Of course, your jerseys are turning into your normal daily outfit,” said Danial.
For them, it was a bridge — a way to draw people in and bring them back to the centrepiece: the café.
As their presence grew, they began creating merchandise that reflected this identity — from T-shirts to small-batch releases. Some were in collaboration with other local brands and roasters, like their merch drop with Collective Coffee Roasters.
Instead of treating merch as an afterthought, Coffeeboy Club made it part of the experience — a way for customers to connect more deeply with the brand and carry a piece of its culture with them beyond the café.
Right before the first MCO, things were gaining momentum.
“The volume was picking up for us,” said Danial. “And then came MCO… That’s why we were pretty confident that I think we can still make this year.”
They did — and they’ve only continued to grow to this day.
Building a Community
For Coffeeboy Club, it was never just about serving coffee — it was about building a space where people could gather, connect, and feel at home.
Over the years, they’ve hosted everything from vintage markets to music events and runs with running clubs like Godspeed.RC. These initiatives weren’t profit-driven. They were passion projects.
“It’s not much about the profit, to be honest,” Bryan shared. “But we want to build a community here.”
“It’s a bit counterintuitive to pay to be in a community,” added Danial. “Then that becomes, like, a club.”
That mindset has helped shape Coffeeboy Club into what it is today: a third space for creatives, students, professionals, and regulars from all walks of life. Many of them have become loyal supporters who proudly rep the brand, attend every drop, and treat the café like a second home.
It’s a kind of organic loyalty that can’t be bought — only earned.
The Dreamer Meets The Doer
Running a café isn’t your typical 9-to-5. For Bryan and Danial, it’s a round-the-clock commitment — often more intense than their previous corporate jobs.
“It’s not technically 9-to-5,” Bryan said. “It could be 24 hours a day.”
“It could be more,” Danial added. “It’s actually worse than a 9-to-5.”
But what makes it work is their synergy — and the clear understanding of their roles.
Bryan leads the creative side, from branding and marketing to curating events that bring energy to the space. Meanwhile, Danial handles operations, ensuring the day-to-day runs smoothly. One dreams, the other executes — and together, they’ve built something sustainable.
From the start, they were intentional about defining their strengths and playing to them. It’s this balance that keeps Coffeeboy Club moving — and growing.
What’s Next for Coffeeboy Club?
What began in Gasket Alley as a 3-month trial has now expanded to multiple locations, including TRX and The Campus Ampang — with each space carrying the same DNA of culture, coffee, and connection.
Their presence isn’t just physical. On social media, @coffeeboyclub has become the go-to spot for updates on new merch drops, community events, and collaborative pop-ups.
True to form, Bryan and Danial are still doing only what they love — but doing it on a larger scale, with more people alongside them.
And they’re not done yet.
As Danial puts it, “Thanks, guys. More to come.”
