An 86-year-old grandmother in China has become a social media sensation for operating a coffee shop for over a decade – a business she took over from her son in 2015, despite having no experience with coffee at the time.

Zhao Qiying, affectionately known as the “Coffee Grandma,” revealed that the shop, located in downtown Qingdao in eastern China’s Shandong province, was nearly bankrupt due to her son’s lack of business acumen, according to the Peninsular Metropolis News.

At that time, Zhao was disheartened by the passing of her husband. Her son suggested she manage the coffee shop to help distract her, advising her to merely serve as a doorkeeper since few customers visited the outlet.

Despite her initial reservations, Zhao wanted to learn how to make coffee for customers. However, no institution was willing to accept her as a student due to her age, prompting her to take matters into her own hands.

She taught herself through coffee-making books and received tips from her son, gradually honing her skills.