PETALING JAYA, Oct 17 — The inaugural Selangor Coffee Festival (SelCoff) serves as a platform to introduce the state as a coffee hub and a premier lifestyle tourism destination in Malaysia.
Tourism Selangor’s Event and Focus Tourism Department manager Faroul Mustaffa said the festival, starting today until Sunday (October 19) at The Curve, Damansara, also fulfils social needs, as coffee has become a lifestyle, especially among the younger generation.
“The lifestyle of youths has made coffee their go-to choice, which inspired this event. Drinking coffee has become almost cultural. Before work, one needs coffee; even during breaks, people look for coffee.
“So, we see this industry playing a major role: not just involving traders but also a broader ecosystem, including coffee bean suppliers, machine distributors, and others. We hope the programme will continue next year,” he said.
Faroul added that they are targeting 30,000 visitors due to the strategic venue, which is a popular choice among the public.
Some 30 coffee vendors, including entrepreneurs from Indonesia and Vietnam, are taking part, offering visitors a wider range of options.
Adding to the excitement, he noted that SelCoff also features renowned entrepreneurs from every district in Selangor, serving as a platform for local products to expand further.
“This programme brings together all coffee entrepreneurs in Selangor from across its nine districts. For instance, we have the owner of the famous Chongkok Kopitiam from Klang and Kopi KKK from Kuala Langat.
“At the same time, this event indirectly supports Visit Selangor Year 2025, which aims to attract eight million tourists. As of now, we are on the right track,” Faroul said.
Alongside coffee sales, SelCoff also features various engaging activities, including coffee exhibitions, barista competitions, workshops, and industry forums, as well as performances by popular artistes like Aizat Amdan, Bunga Isme, and Tam Spider.
The Asean Barista Championship, featuring participants from several Southeast Asian countries, will be the festival's highlight on Saturday (October 18) and Sunday. The gastronomy-themed event also includes a pickleball court to promote a healthy, active lifestyle.
For this year's state budget, Menteri Besar Dato’ Seri Amirudin Shari announced a RM1 million allocation for SelCof, marking Selangor's move towards becoming a key player in the coffee industry.
