COFFEE lovers were spoilt for choice as Kuali, Star Media Group’s (SMG) culinary platform, celebrated International Coffee Day with its inaugural “Kopi Ber-Kuali-Ti” bazaar.
The day-long event held at the lobby of Menara Star, Petaling Jaya, Selangor, featured 26 vendors offering not just coffee, but also tea, tacos, shawarma, desserts and fresh fruits.
Celebrity chef Datuk Fazley Yaakob launched the event with a “Sweet Table” dessert art showcase.
This was followed by a barista talk by World Brewers Cup 2026 champion Nas Jaafar, who advised coffee enthusiasts to spend at least 70% of their equipment budget on a good grinder.
During his demonstration, Nas used the same flat-bottomed “UFO” dripper he used at the competition in Belgium, brewing 15g of coffee with 210g of water – a 1:14 ratio – in two minutes.
He explained that the ratio mainly affected mouthfeel, with less water giving a heavier cup while more water yields a softer one.
Asked whether coffee could taste sour, he said baristas preferred the term acidity.
“If it’s pleasant, it’s good acidity. If it’s not pleasant, then it can be sour,” he said.
Despite his world title, Nas said he was constantly gaining new knowledge about coffee.
“At the end of the day, the best coffee you will ever have is the coffee that you enjoy,” he added.
The event included a performance by singer Ara Johari and dessert-making demonstration by PKPS Ehsan Marketing Sdn Bhd.
Visitors also took part in three sessions of the Kuali Fun Games and a Kuali quiz, with winners taking home goodie bags.
There was also a stamp rally where visitors collected a stamp for each purchase from three different vendors, then spun a wheel at the redemption counter to determine which blind box they would take home.
Kuali editor Izra Rahman said the event aimed to create a space for the community to gather and explore the world of coffee and food.
Selangor Agricultural Development Corporation (PKPS) was the strategic sponsor, with subsidiaries PKPS Ehsan Marketing and Selangor Fruit Valley showcasing their products, including a latte made with Ehsan coconut milk.
Gardenia Bakeries KL was another event sponsor.
Kuali celebrates food, culinary culture and the people behind it through engaging stories, recipes and food-related content with the tagline “Lebih Daripada Resipi”.
