SINCE 1953
At Sai Kee, we dedicated more than 60 years of love and passion into coffee roasting.We pay great attention on sourcing, storing, roasting, blending and packaging to satisfy our ever demanding customers. We try to win over the hearts and minds all over. We do it with passion, and we roast coffee with great joy and pride.
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We pay great attention on sourcing, storing, roasting, blending and packaging to satisfy our ever demanding customers. We try to win over the hearts and minds all over. We do it with passion, and we roast coffee with great joy and pride.
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THE FOUNDING OF 434
Sai Kee Kopi is founded by Mr. Kiar Han Sai in 1953. As the word Kee means ‘remember’ in Mandarin, the late Mr. Kiar used this word to remind all of his descendants that, no matter how successful the business is, they should learn to appreciate whatever they have and never forget the hardships that the ancestor (Mr. Kiar) had been through to build the business.
WHY 434?
In 1960s, Sai Kee Kopi gained its popularity from the local Muarians, who ordered the coffee through the phone. Interestingly, the last three digits of the phone number, 434, is a catchy number for the locals and a lucky number for Sai Kee Kopi. Instead of ‘Sai Kee Kopi’ that was used to call our coffee products, Muarians seemed to prefer naming the coffee as ‘Kopi 434’, as if by mutual consent.
To Sai Kee Kopi, it is very honorable to receive the name, 434, from all Muarians because we know this name signifies the love and support granted by the locals. Hence, Sai Kee Kopi Serbok Sdn. Bhd. will continue using the name ‘Kopi 434’ given by the locals for our mainstream coffee products, and dedicating more love and passion in coffee roasting to ensure and enhance the quality of our products and services and, most importantly, to thank all of our customers for their profound love and trust.
-ESTABLISHED-
1953
First Generation: KIAR AM SAI
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"We use the finest materials, do not cut corners and never compromise on quality control."
That's Mr. Kiar Am Sai' code of business.
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1953
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In 1953, 434 (‘four-three-four’) was established as a traditional coffee roasters and was particularly popular amongst the local communities for using Elephant Beans (Liberica, or ‘Liberian coffee’) in the roasting and brewing of Nanyang Coffee.
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1963
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our first factory was built as the popularity and local demand for our coffee products went up.
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1980
The Second generation started to join.
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"Don't need to be the biggest, but quality must be the best."That's Kiar Juan Pooh's business philosophy.
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1982
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In 1982, early innovation led to a then new blend of elephant beans and Robusta beans sourced from Indonesia for the roasting of Nanyang Coffee.
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1988
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In 1988, the factory was modernised and rebuilt. Several innovations were brought to the brand, including the use of coffee pouches and packaging.
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1990
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Since 1990, the locally grown elephant beans and its agriculture in Malaysia were gradually replaced by the more profitable oil palm plantation. As production of elephant beans plummeted drastically since the 90s, elephant beans have become a precious rarity, and in fact an endangered one - with global production of elephant beans (‘Liberica’) currently stands at less than 1% of world coffee production. Despite the higher costs and other difficulties, 434 persists to house a Liberica tree plantation and handpick the coffee fruits to deliver the highest quality in our products. 434 actively promotes elephant bean because it represents the cultural and historical identity of a truly Malaysian coffee.
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2000
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In order to prevent the complete extinction of Elephant Bean coffee in Malaysia, Mr. Kiar Juan Pooh, a visionary, led Sai Kee 434 to replant Elephant Bean coffee.
2003
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Sai Kee 434 started planning to start a café. At that time, Sai Kee Café only had two tables for customers to taste the coffee.
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2005
Sai Kee Café was established as the first professional café in Muar. In addition, Sai Kee Café developed the world's most limited edition coffee drink, the Queen's Coffee.
It is called "Queen's Coffee" because it can only be brewed with the addition of coffee flowers, so it can only be brewed when the coffee flowers are in bloom.
Just like the Queen, it is not something that can be seen by anyone.
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2009
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The third generation started to join.
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2011
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Sai Kee Café upgrades again, starts making its own and serving cooked food, and it's a huge hit.
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2015
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In order to provide customers with a variety of coffees, Sai Kee Café has started offering Musang(Also called Civet coffee) and Blue Mountain coffees..
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2017
In 2017, another 434 café was established in Melaka.
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