What if your next cup of coffee could be made exactly the way you like it?

That is the concept behind BLKAC Roastery, Aik Cheong’s specialty coffee sub-brand and its first specialty café, located at The Food Merchant, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur.

Turning a routine grocery trip into a coffee discovery experience, The Food Merchant has introduced BLKAC Roastery as the first freshly roasted coffee bean roastery in a supermarket in Malaysia. Here, customers can explore different coffee beans and taste profiles, while having their beans freshly roasted according to their preferred roast level.

The experience also allows coffee lovers to customise their coffee from bean to cup, offering a level of personalisation that is rarely found in a supermarket setting.

Building on Aik Cheong’s coffee heritage, BLKAC invites a new generation of coffee drinkers to explore different beans, personalised brewing methods, and the journey from bean to cup.

With 11 types of single-origin coffee beans and more than 20 drinks on the menu, customers have plenty of options to explore and find a cup that suits their preferences.

A coffee heritage rooted in Melaka

Aik Cheong’s coffee story began in 1955 on Jonker Street, Melaka, where it started by roasting coffee for the local community.

“For many Malaysians, when we talk about Aik Cheong, one of the first things that comes to mind is its traditional coffee taste, a taste that has been part of Malaysian coffee culture for generations,” said Ernest Koh Tsu Hern, Senior National Manager of Aik Cheong Coffee Roaster Sdn Bhd.

One of the earliest notable innovations was the introduction of Malaysia’s first Kopi-O coffee-in-a-bag format, bringing the familiar taste of local coffee into households nationwide.

In 2025, Aik Cheong was honoured with two ASEAN Records one for the most Kopi-O sachets sold in a year and another recognising its pioneering of the Kopi-O coffee-in-a-bag format since 1980.

For Ernest, heritage is not simply about looking back.

“After more than 70 years in coffee, we believe heritage should not only focus on looking back. ‘Innovation Brews Tradition’ is our way of bringing our coffee heritage into a new generation through fresh ideas, new experiences and specialty coffee, while staying true to who we are.”

From traditional coffee to specialty coffee

That evolution eventually led BLKAC into the specialty coffee space.

In 2020, Aik Cheong entered the specialty coffee segment through BLKAC, connecting coffee enthusiasts with freshly roasted coffee and bringing a more curated coffee experience.

For BLKAC, specialty coffee became another avenue for exploration, from discovering different coffee varieties and flavour profiles to appreciating the freshness and character of freshly roasted beans.

The new Roastery Cafe brings the coffee experience into the heart of a retail environment, allowing visitors to interact with the process in a more hands-on way.

“Customers can also choose different types of single-origin coffee beans, as well as 4 different blends. This allows them to explore different origins, flavours and profiles,” said Joseph Long, BLKAC Roastery Project Lead & Head Roaster.

The concept puts personalisation at the centre of the experience.

“At BLKAC, you can customise your coffee beans according to your preference, starting with the grind size. Whether you prefer coarse, medium, medium-fine or fine, your coffee beans can be ground accordingly.”

When it comes to the coffee itself, customers can also choose the style that best suits their preference, whether they enjoy an espresso or milk-based coffee, he said.

Our baristas would also recommend the most suitable coffee beans based on each customer’s preferred taste profile, whether they enjoy something bold and strong, or prefer nutty, chocolatey, fruity or floral notes.

Discovering how beans can taste different


“We also offer different brewing methods, including espresso, siphon and pour-over. Through these different methods, customers can experience how the same coffee bean can taste different depending on how it is brewed,” Joseph said.

An outdoor-inspired identity

The coffee experience at BLKAC Roastery is not limited to what is in the cup. Even the space and the team’s appearance reflect the personalities and interests behind the concept.

“The concept is actually inspired by the activities our team enjoys outside of work. We do a lot of outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, and running”

“That inspiration can be seen in the baristas’ uniforms, which move away from the conventional uniform and take cues from outdoor and adventure culture,” Joseph explained.

More than a cup of coffee

The opening of BLKAC Roastery represents another chapter in a coffee story that has continued to evolve alongside changing consumer habits.

From traditional Malaysian coffee and Kopi-O coffee-in-a-bag to specialty beans and personalised brewing, each stage has expanded the ways consumers can experience their coffee.

At The Food Merchant, Pavilion KL, that journey is brought into a physical space where visitors can slow down, become curious about coffee, and discover what goes into their cup.

So, the next time you find yourself picking up groceries at The Food Merchant in Pavilion KL at Level 1, drop by at BLKAC Roastery and discover a cup of coffee made just the way you like it.

You never know. The next cup you try might just become your new favourite.