A toast to the roast
Not all Malaysian coffees are created equal. Here are some popular local brew you can find around the country.
WHEN it comes to coffee, Malaysians indulge in caffeine differently than people in most parts of the world. Malaysian coffee – or kopi, as it is affectionately known among locals – is often considered an acquired taste by foreigners. Coffee here is distinctly strong, robust and aromatic.
This is because the majority of the country’s coffee beans come from the Liberica coffee plant, although some places here do brew the widely consumed Arabica or Robusta variant too. The light to medium-bodied Liberica beans have bitter top notes with a hint of floral and spice. Those with a more discerning palate might even pick up a slightly smoky taste.
Only about 2% of the global coffee production is Liberica. It’s exactly this sort of rarity that makes local coffee in Malaysia so special.
And when coupled with our kopitiam (coffee shop) culture – think toast and eggs served on a marble-top table at a pre-war shophouse – the local coffee scene is certainly a unique experience.
But just because the same coffee bean is used, that doesn’t mean all kopi in Malaysia taste the same.
In some states, the double roasting process is enhanced by adding extra ingredients such as sugar, salt and margarine. This leads to specialties such as the Ipoh white coffee in Perak and Tenom coffee in Sabah.
For coffee aficionados, plan for a trip around the country to get a real taste of a variety of local coffee. If you’re more of a tea person, some famous kopitiams are also worth checking out for their food, architecture and history surrounding the area.
We’ve tracked down some special coffee as well as popular coffee shops around Malaysia. Complete your trip by visiting some famous landmarks in the area after your fresh cuppa.
If you have your own personal recommendation, let us know on Instagram or Twitter at @starlifestylemy.
Ipoh’s reputation as a foodie destination has much to do with it being the birthplace of the famous “white coffee”. That prestige was further elevated in 2018 when Lonely Planet celebrated the city’s illustrious coffee culture in the book Global Coffee Tour.
“Ipoh’s signature white coffee is famously hot, sweet and almost buttery in taste, and has spawned a chain of cafes that has found its way around Malaysia,” the publication wrote.
It went on to name Sin Yoon, a traditional coffee shop located in Jalan Bandar Timah, for its authentic traditional recipe.
Despite its name, the coffee is actually beige in colour. The lighter colour is achieved by slow-roasting the beans only with margarine, over a low temperature.
In comparison, the traditional Malaysian coffee is roasted with margarine and sugar.
Smooth and frothy, Ipoh white coffee is often served with sweetened condensed milk to give it that perfect balance of coffee and milk.