Astep Coffee was founded in 2021 by Alson Ong in Johor Bahru, carving out a niche with its Japanese Dark Roast approach. The roastery works with Halal certified Arabica beans sourced from the highlands of Sabah, rooting part of its supply chain in Malaysian soil. Each batch is roasted daily to order, ensuring freshness across a lineup of blends with names drawn from Japanese heritage, including Daimyo, Shogun, and Nabu. Astep's focus on bridging Japanese roasting traditions with Southeast Asian coffee culture gives it a distinctive identity within Malaysia's growing specialty scene.