Mai and Tuan opened with one pot and a timer.
In 2019 they rented a 600-square-foot spot between a pho house and a phone repair shop. Mai cooked pearls in one pot and set a timer for two hours. When it rang, whatever was left went to the staff. It still works that way.
Tuan does the tea. Every morning he brews jasmine, oolong, black and Thai tea from loose leaf. No powder, no syrup base. If a tea runs out, it's gone until tomorrow.