The COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing lockdown had grounded many careers, and those in the airline industry are among the worst hit.
Amid the gloom, there have been cases of retrenched pilots rising above the challenge to open up businesses, including in the food and beverage industry, to keep surviving.
Among them are Dinesh Nadarajah, 34, and Surren Kanna, 36, who opened their own cold brew business called TakeOff Coffee after being let go from Singapore Airlines and Air Asia x, respectively, at the height of the pandemic late last year.
Free Malaysia Today (FMT) spoke to the duo, who recalled their foray into the coffee business.
According to Dinesh, he had a hunch that he would be let go from Singapore Airlines when COVID-19 cases kept rising in 2020, as foreign workers were the first ones to be cut off during the SARS outbreak previously.
Thus, Dinesh started preparing himself and his family mentally and physically to face the inevitable after 11 years at the airlines.
As he loved a good cup of coffee as much as he did flying, Dinesh approached Surren, whom he has known since their pilot academy days, about starting the coffee business in June last year.
Surren did not consider the idea seriously, until he himself was retrenched in September, reported FMT.
It was then the duo got together to source the beans, and getting vendors to mix, roast, blend and grind the coffee beans. After a lot of trial and errors, and experiments with the right kind of milk for the dairy and non-dairy options, TakeOff Coffee was born.
"We probably had over 60 cups of cold brew we finalised our choice of dairy and non-dairy," Surren recalled to the portal.
To the uninitiated, cold brew coffee is less acidic than its machine-brewed counterpart, as the beans to make the former are soaked overnight for 16 to 20 hours to extract the coffee.
TakeOff Coffee is brewed and packaged at the duo's homes in Bangsar and Shah Alam, and a sampling session at the Publika mall in December last year, the coffee was officially launched on Jan 28 this year.
Today, TakeOff Coffee even caters a variety of the beverage, including the smooth, and the bitter, and for the lactose intolerant or even vegans.
For those concerned about the level of sugar in their coffee, TakeOff Coffee even provides those made out of Gula Apong, a special type of organic sugar made from the Nipah plant from Sarawak.
Customisable cuppas are also available according to the customer's preference.
Dinesh and Surren liken making coffee to flying, saying: "When we safely land our passengers and see the happy smiles on their faces, it makes us feel good. Now as a barista, it brings us the same personal satisfaction when a customer enjoys our coffee."
The duo has sold 550 bottles of cold brew as of Feb 11, and they plan to make the business a long-term venture, even after the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions are eventually lifted.
They are in talks with friends in Sabah and Johor in view of opening up the business there.
If you want to try TakeOff Coffee, or just plain yearning for a cold cup of coffee, head to TakeOff Coffee's Instagram page or Facebook page , or WhatsApp them at 017-7762945.
Source & Photo source: FMT
Wed Feb 17 2021


Boy, 6, Sets Record by Identifying 190 Car Logos in Five Minutes!
Most adults would face issues in identifying car models, let alone recognizing vehicles from their logos. But little L. Raguram is just six, but he has created a national record by identifying a whopping 190 car logos in just five minutes.

Actress Meena's Husband Dies From Alleged Lung Infection
It has been reported that actress Meena's husband died from a lung infection on Monday. Our deepest condolences to the actress and her family.

N. Elanghovan Creates History & Record as the Oldest Malaysian to Summit Everest
N. Elanghovan, 64, has created history by becoming the oldest Malaysian to summit Mount Everest on May 12. He is also set to be recognized by the Malaysia Book of Records for his impressive feat.

Squash Ace Sivasangari Injured in Car Crash; Out of Commonwealth Games
National No 1 squash player S. Sivasangari has been hospitalized following a car accident at the Maju Expressway yesterday. She reportedly suffered serious head injuries and has awakened after a surgery.

Once Malnourished India is Getting Fatter: Survey
Long known as a country of malnourished, underweight people, India is inching its way into becoming an obese country, a government survey has revealed.

Mechanic's Son Scores 8As in SPM, Needs Funds for Higher Education
Buntong teenager V. Naveenkumar recently scored an impressive 8As and 1B in his Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) exam, but his mechanic father is concerned of the chance of further studies, due to inconsistent income. Here's how you can help...

Standing on One Leg for 10 Seconds Could Tell your Health Condition: Study
The ability to stand on one leg for 10 seconds could indicate your risk of dying in the next decade, a new study has shown.
.jpg?ext=.jpg)
Shocking: 18 People Declared Bankrupt Daily!
An average of 18 people were declared bankrupt daily, in the first five months of 2022, the Insolvency Department has revealed.

Astro Announces Tunku Ali Redhauddin as New Chairman
The Board of Astro Malaysia Holdings Berhad (Astro) has announced Tunku Ali Redhauddin Ibni Tuanku Muhriz to succeed Tun Zaki Tun Azmi as the new Chairman effective 23 June 2022.

Johor May Revert to Sat-Sun Off Days; Here's What you Need to Know
Johor may soon have a two-and-a-half day weekend - Friday as half-day to facilitate prayers, and Saturday and Sunday as official days off. Here's what you need to know...

Six Kollywood Actresses Who Played Iconic Dual Roles
Let's take a look at six memorable dual-role performances by female actors!

Actor Suriya Was Not the First Choice for 'Rolex' in 'Vikram'
Guess who was the first choice to play 'Rolex' in Lokesh Kanagaraj's 'Vikram'...
.png?ext=.png)
Top South Indian Actresses Who Made it Big in Bollywood
Let's take a look at eight South Indian female actors that have made it big in Bollywood!

Seven Selfies you Should Never Share Online!
Taking a selfie has become a norm nowadays. But steer clear of posting these types of selfies which may cost you your reputation, or even life...

Boy, 6, Sets Record by Identifying 190 Car Logos in Five Minutes!
Most adults would face issues in identifying car models, let alone recognizing vehicles from their logos. But little L. Raguram is just six, but he has created a national record by identifying a whopping 190 car logos in just five minutes.

Actress Meena's Husband Dies From Alleged Lung Infection
It has been reported that actress Meena's husband died from a lung infection on Monday. Our deepest condolences to the actress and her family.

Six Times Vijay Sethupathi Proved He's a Versatile Actor
Vijay Sethupathi is one of the most talented actors in today's Kollywood industry. Here are six movies that he especially made lasting impact with...

N. Elanghovan Creates History & Record as the Oldest Malaysian to Summit Everest
N. Elanghovan, 64, has created history by becoming the oldest Malaysian to summit Mount Everest on May 12. He is also set to be recognized by the Malaysia Book of Records for his impressive feat.

Catch the Antics of the Chidambaram Family on 'Uppuroti Chidambaram', Premiering July 4
Astro customers can look forward to the premiere of Uppuroti Chidambaram, a heart-warming local Tamil family drama series available from 4 July on Astro Vaanavil (Ch 201), Astro GO and On Demand.

Squash Ace Sivasangari Injured in Car Crash; Out of Commonwealth Games
National No 1 squash player S. Sivasangari has been hospitalized following a car accident at the Maju Expressway yesterday. She reportedly suffered serious head injuries and has awakened after a surgery.