Meet Pakistan’s First Backpack Coffee Seller

Islamabad: With an investment of just Rs. 27,000 borrowed from his wife, a young entrepreneur from Azad Kashmir has turned an unusual idea into a mobile coffee business, serving customers directly from a customised backpack.

Raja Osama Ilyas Khan, who belongs to Dhir Kot in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), describes himself as Pakistan’s first backpack coffee seller. Instead of opening a conventional café, he carries an entire coffee setup on his back, offering customers tea, hot coffee, hot chocolate and black coffee.

Currently pursuing a Master’s degree at Riphah International University’s Al-Mizan Campus in Rawalpindi, Osama also works in the private sector and manages his coffee business part-time.

The idea came to him after he identified a gap in the Pakistani market. While street vendors selling traditional qahwa are common, he believed that operating a complete mobile café with a variety of beverages was something different.

“I thought nobody was doing this kind of work, so I decided to start it myself,” he said.

Setting up the business required more than simply purchasing a backpack. His equipment includes thermoses, coffee, milk powder, beaters, disposable cups, lids and mixing sticks. The thermoses alone weigh around five kilograms, while the complete setup weighs approximately eight to nine kilograms.

He also had to get a customised backpack made, with specially designed circular compartments to accommodate the thermoses.

The total initial investment came to around Rs. 27,000, which he borrowed from his wife, who had some personal savings.

Before taking the business to the streets, Osama had little knowledge of coffee-making. His wife and niece initially suggested that he practise at home, but his first attempt turned out to be a success.

“I made my first cup of coffee, and it turned out so amazing that everyone in my family praised it. That was a success for me,” he recalled.

However, taking the idea from his home to the streets was a different challenge.

Osama said he was extremely nervous on his first day and kept his face mask on throughout the day. Some people even made fun of him, shouting remarks such as “hot eggs” behind his back.

Rather than giving up, he chose to ignore the criticism and continued serving customers.

He says the response has since been encouraging, with customers returning regularly and offering positive feedback. He also actively asks customers for suggestions to improve the quality of his products and services.

Despite working a full-time job, Osama spends five to six hours selling coffee, carrying the heavy backpack throughout his shift.

According to him, daily sales can reach between Rs. 10,000 and Rs. 15,000, depending on the day and customer response. He says some customers also pay more than the listed price.

He acknowledges that balancing employment with a physically demanding business is not easy, but believes the effort is worthwhile.

Osama’s experience has also shaped his message for young people who hesitate to pursue business ideas because of the fear of criticism or social judgement.

He believes that people will always find something to criticise, regardless of what someone achieves.

“Even when you die, people will still find something to criticise. People will always talk. Just listen and ignore them,” he said.

Encouraging young people to step outside their comfort zones, he said consistency and determination were essential for turning an idea into a successful venture.

“If I can do it, then you can definitely do it too,” he added.

Osama’s backpack café offers an example of how a relatively small investment and an unconventional idea can open a path towards entrepreneurship, even while balancing education and employment.