Becoming Our Youngest Roaster at the Age of 17

At 15, Le Le didn't know what he was capable of. Bettr did.

"I was quite nervous... riddled with anxiety.”

Le Le was the only BWT student that batch to choose the roastery for his internship. While others picked front-of-house, he was drawn to the back end — the machinery, the process, the quiet precision of it all. His dad encouraged him to walk in alone that first day, to go in with confidence. He did. His supervisor knew from the very first interview. When a 15-year-old tells you the sound of coffee is therapeutic, you pay attention. "I thought — this kid is a little bit different."

Finding his anchor

The crew moved like clockwork — everyone knowing what to do, exactly where to be. Le Le watched and quietly wondered if he'd ever belong among them. He asked questions anyway, learned the steps, and kept showing up every day. Slowly, the roastery stopped feeling like someone else's place and started feeling like his.

By 17 he was production roasting. By 18 he was fixing machinery when it went down — one of his proudest moments. The boy who once hesitated at every event invitation eventually answered "why not" without missing a beat.

To Le Le, until we meet again

Le Le leaves for National Service as one of Singapore's youngest coffee roasters.
We are proud of you, Le Le.