A symphony composed of coffee and brewing equipment — must-visit specialty cafés in Malaysia

Text & Photos /A Flight Attendant’s Coffee Journey

The Brew Orchestra — an iconic specialty café in Johor Bahru

Some people in Taiwan may not be very familiar with Johor Bahru. It is the third-largest city in Malaysia and the capital of Johor State (Johor Bahru). Many of the Malaysian colleagues of the flight attendant are from here, and they often just call it JB. Johor is the southernmost state in Malaysia, very close to Singapore. This time, the flight attendant took a bus directly from Singapore, passed through customs, and arrived here — super convenient.

Due to currency exchange rates and cost of living, many Singaporeans come here to dine, shop, and spend. It’s a bit like how people from Hong Kong go to Shenzhen. The Legoland Theme Park, which the flight attendant has been eager to visit, is also located here. The specialty café introduced this time is The Brew Orchestra, owned by Isaac, the 2014 Malaysian AeroPress Champion.

The young and handsome owner, full of ideals, returned to his hometown where specialty coffee was not yet popular and bravely opened this specialty café focused on coffee. Their head barista, a beautiful Korean chief barista, also studied to become a Q Grader in Korea. Unfortunately, she wasn’t feeling well this time so we didn’t get to meet her, but you can tell from the photos that she’s a stunning barista.

The owner obtained the professional diploma of Q Grader — a certified coffee taster — in Korea. Since the flight attendant has also earned this diploma, they shared their challenging experiences during the difficult exam process during the interview.

What is a Q Grader?

Basically, you have to pass 18 coffee-related tests, including coffee comparison tests, acidity identification, taste threshold tests, cupping sessions, and identification of both green and roasted beans. You must pass each test to earn the Licensed Q Grader Certificate issued by the Coffee Quality Institute (CQI), and your name will be listed on their official website.

The quality of the coffee and the expertise of the Q Grader — a certified coffee taster — along with the spacious, comfortable space and stylish decor, have quickly made this one of the most iconic specialty cafés in Johor Bahru. The origin of the name “Brew Orchestra” reflects the concept of a symphony: each type of coffee is like a different movement, and every brewing method is like a different instrument, coming together to create delicious notes and melodies. What a romantic name (for a café).

The overall design — whether it’s the interior, brand logo, or menu — shows great attention to detail. The ceiling is designed to resemble piano strings, giving off an elegant and romantic vibe. The café has a spacious and comfortable environment, with large communal tables perfect for meetings, and smaller four-person tables ideal for dates or gatherings with friends. As someone who pays attention to seating comfort, the flight attendant found no issues with crowding here. Personally, I love the minimalist Nordic style, and the Nordic Wegner-designed chairs used in the café match the overall space — sleek, integrated, and truly beautiful.

Although the coffee isn’t roasted in-house, Isaac is extremely particular about the quality of the beans used at the café. They aim for beans that score close to 90 or above on coffee grading scales — definitely no disappointment here.

The Brew Orchestra @ Taman Molek
Add: 19, Jalan Molek 1/5C, Taman Molek, 81100 Johor Bahru, Johor.
Tel: 0111-7630623
Business Hour: 10am-10pm (Sun-Mon), 10am-12am (Fri & Sat)
Facebook: The Brew Orchestra

A Flight Attendant’s Coffee Journey
Exploring specialty cafés around the world through years of flying and a professional barista’s perspective.
Author: Current flight attendant, certified SCAA (Specialty Coffee Association of America) Level 1 Barista, certified SCAA & CQI Q GraderFB、Blog、Instagram: world_coffeeshop