Photo provided to Shanghai Star

Unlike other coffee importers, Martin does not buy from wholesalers. He only buys coffee beans from farmers and cooperatives.

"I go to the bottom of the supply chain to offer the farmers the best price to continue their hard work and to shorten the time it takes to get fresh coffee beans from the tree to the coffee cup," Martin says.

Having visited many farmers in South America and China, Martin has managed to source seven types of high-quality coffee beans from Bolivia and Columbia in South America and Yunnan province in China.

To minimize his initial outlay, Martin started his business just trading coffee beans before taking the plunge and opening a coffee shop.

It proved a wise decision, and enabled him to raise funds from investors.

"I started off being a coffee bean wholesaler and supplier for local coffee shops and supermarkets. Now I am ready to move onto the next level – opening my own coffee shop," says Martin.

After studying and working with coffee for more than three years, Martin has become a coffee expert. He insists on buying raw coffee beans and roasting and brewing them himself to preserve the original flavors.