The Combat Potato: Coffee in Malaysia

As we know, coffee was internationally accepted and had a different style and unique in each different country or region. As we knew, the most sold and easy to find coffee in the market were Americano, Espresso, Latte and Mocha. How about traditional or local style coffee and I mean in my own country, Malaysia. It's weird that I get inside Starbuck and order Kopi O Ais. In this post I'll explain more about local style coffee.

Coffee and Malaysia

Known as Kopi in Malay, coffee believe was introduced by the British Officer during the Colonial period in Malaya. Besides becoming drink by high rank officer, the drink also become popular among the people in Malaya. In beginning in Malays community, coffee mostly serves at Warung or hawker stall. While in the town, all of coffeeserves in Kopitiam generally run by Hainanese and Hokkien. Todays, warung and Kopitiam can be seen everywhere in Malaysia. Additionally, a new concept of restaurant was known as Mamak stall also serve coffee.

Type

Mostly coffee in Malaysia can divide into two type that's kopi'o (plain coffee) and kopi susu (serve with milk). Both types serve hot or cold.

When

All Malaysian consume coffee day and night. It's true or not. In my opinion, It's true. For breakfast, coffee had become alternative choice for teh tarik. It's serve along bread or half boil egg. For lunch, some of Malaysian choose to drink coffee ice. At night, coffee become favorite choice for the one that love to hang out for watching football match or midnight movies.

What's infamous

Well known coffee in Malaysia mostly Kluang Railway Coffee and Ipoh White Coffee.

Traditional VS Modern & Import Coffee.

All around the world know that Starbuck, San Francisco Coffee or Coffee Bean were big name in Coffee industry but it only sold non-local coffee. Somebody will laugh at you if you get into Starbuck and order kopi o ais. Soon, local companies had took initiative to come up modern style cafe but serve also traditional coffee. Now, all of this brand can stand equal to Starbuck or Coffee Bean such as Old Town White Coffee or Ipoh White Coffee.