Are you a Coffee Addict?
Once you go black, you don’t go back.
Many people will tell you that drinking coffee black, no sugar is the only way to drink coffee. Some like it super sweet, while others like theirs milky.
Me, I like coffee period. How happy was I, when I heard that the latest studies have also shown that coffee has benefits, such as protecting against Parkinson’s disease, type 2 diabetes and liver cancer. And it has a high content of antioxidants. But this doesn’t mean you should disregard the old maxim “Everything in moderation.”
Although coffee may not be very harmful, other beverages that go in it, such as milk contains rich nutrition i.e. cholesterol, that coffee does not. Also, keep in mind that coffee accompaniments such as cream and sugar add fat and calories to your diet! Heavy caffeine use in the order of four to seven cups of coffee a day can cause problems such as restlessness, anxiety, irritability and sleeplessness, particularly in susceptible individuals.
Which means guys, moderation is KEY.
There are many ways to roast coffee beans. You may roast coffee beans in a skillet, wok, or oven too. The more a coffee bean is roasted, the more the bean burns off caffeine. Thus, white coffee beans, being only slightly roasted, contain more caffeine than the fully roasted bean, making it ideal for those who desire an extra dose of caffeine in their coffee.. like me!
In Malaysia, the typical chinese coffee shop serves a kind of coffee, where the coffee beans are roasted in a huge Wok, with margarine. This is suppose to make the coffee more aromatic and the margarine is sometimes evident in the thin layer of scum floating on top of the resulting coffee that is served with condensed milk. No matter. Just remove it with your teaspoon and voila! A fantastic cup of local Malaysian coffee!
Below are 10 of my favourite Malaysian coffee-shops for local coffee.. what are yours?
1. Ipoh, Perak.
Being an Ipoh girl and all, I love all things Ipoh, especially the food and the coffee.
Ipoh, Sin Yoon Loong on Jalan Bandar Timah – I totally dig the White coffee here. Another great outlet is along Jalan Bandar Timah, called Nam Heong, the original makers of the Old Town White Coffee brand and has now branched out to franchised coffee shops under the banner Old Town Kopitiam.
2. Penang
Toh Soon Cafe on Campbell Road is where my reps take me for a coffee fix. This coffee is thick and sometimes a wee bit too milky for me, but the locals assure me THIS is the only way to drink coffee! Of course there are many other joints but I will leave you to tell me what your favourite is.
3.Kemaman, Terrenganu.
Everybody knows, the infamous Hai Peng. Some say it’s nice. Some say it’s too milky. I like it! This quaint coffee shop in Kemaman is somewhat of an institution. Till today, holiday-ing KL folk will still swing by for a cuppa. Of course the locals love this place too.
4. Melaka.
Juat Lye Kedai Kopi in Taman Peringgit Jaya, Malacca, is old as old can be. The coffee here is thick, sweet and strong and the interesting thing is how it is made by first warming the cup with boiling water first. After that, the coffee is poured in with much love and affection to give the perfect cup of coffee!
5. Johor.
Restoran Seng Fatt on Jalan Trus is another prehistoric coffee shop. An icon. The coffee here is great and this is where my reps take me for great local coffee. Another hot favourite is of course , where the Kluang coffee originated from .. why the Kluang Train Station coffee shop, of course! Fantastic, coffee that till today makes many people happy!
6. Klang, Selangor.
Located in Klang opposite the train station on Jalan Station, Chong Kok is famous for its Hainanese coffee. This place is normally packed to the rafters on the weekends especially during breakfast time. The coffee here is so thick you could almost stand your tea-spoon in it. The coffee powder (which you can buy by the Kilo) sells out pretty fast too. I don’t care much for the Nasi Lemak (Coconut rice with chili sambal) sold here, but Chong Kok does a mean cup of coffee! The Nasi Lemak use to be good, but of late, has been a little dry.
7. Ampang, Kuala Lumpur.
Kedai Makan Sun Sun on Jalan Merdeka is famous for it’s super thick black coffee. Veterans come here to drink the strong coffee brew. I feel really ‘young’ sitting here among the old-timers and drinking my cofee after fieldwork with my Reps;)
8. KK, Sabah.
In Kota Kinabalu, my colleague Wilson takes me to… Fook Yuen in Damai Plaza, Kota Kinabalu. I have yet to find a better one. This place bakes it’s own bread that goes superbly well with butter and Kaya.
9. Kuching, Sarawak.
Here in Kuching, Francis my colleague takes me to an old local favourite coffee shop that has been here since the colonial time (I forget the name.. can any reader help me?). It is located behind the general Post Office in the city. The toast is made using Charcoal. The coffee here rocks big-time!
10. Kota Baru, Kelantan.
The White House .. simply because, it looks like the White House in the USA but it is located in Kota Baru, Kelantan! Situated on Jalan Sultanah Zainab, the White House Kopitiam is found opposite Padang Merdeka and beside the State Museum. This place is run by a Chinese man, but this is a Halal joint. This place is famous for the Kaya & butter on Toast but the coffee is not bad either!
OK, now your turn!
My vote’s for Malacca! (Naturally, being a Malaccan boy myself, heh.)
of course! how rya..? enjoying the east coast?
Love drinking coffee… Ah, I should blog about the kopi Luwak (the civet cats dropping), now you can get a tiny small cup that cost only USD 8 😉
Btw, your friend Francis in Kuching, is he Francis Ho, the kayak-er and blogger?
LOL, not francis ho.. 😉
The only coffee I’ve ever really loved … Starbucks’ toffee nut latte! I guess I just don’t know how to really appreciate coffee, heh
that’s good too:P
I love Coffee! The best coffee I’ve had so far is Kopi Luwak, but it’s not something you drink everyday…
FYI, I always start my day with a cup of Old Town White Coffee (no sugar) 🙂
woohoo! u got expensive taste girl;)
San Fran Iced Mocha is good too… 😀
(but too expensive as compared to the yummy coffees at the coffeeshops…)
agree – way too expensive!
I love coffee too. We will have to find some cool coffee places in Chicago next year.
LOL, you have like 9 months to prepare for my arrival! 😛
So glad that the much maligned coffee chains didn’t make it into this list (and no personal diss intended, Sean :-P)
hi min, am sure Sean doesn’t mind;) he’s just a high class boy with highclass taste.. but we still luv him! hehe
I really did enjoy tea and coffee there.
Hm… lucky you got fine coffee there! It’s impossible to find descent, reasonable price coffee bean here.
One other reason that I have to move! haha My list is getting longer. 🙂
yes juno! ur list IS getting longer.. wot u gonna do.. MOVE LA!
Awesome post! Bookmarking this future reference. Rachel loves coffee… 🙂
excellent!
I think that I love milky coffee… not too strong 🙂
i like mine black with sugar or WHITE with no sugar.. go figure! (haha, don’t ask me why.. it’s just laidat ..)
I must confess – I am a coffee addict. One of the best place to sample local coffee is Cawan ( means ‘Cup’ in Malay) at Bangsar,KL. All types of local coffee is available and there is description of all the coffee characteristics. And it costs RM3.00 + (less than US$1) for a cup vs RM8 ( US$2) at Starbuck across the road
My top choice is Ipoh coffee ( what else?)
I KNOW!!!
I love coffee so much that i named my dog (a pug) “Kopi” ( means coffee in Malay)
i know!!!! hehe
I can’t drink coffee, will make me insomnia ~~
really? wow, it hardly has any effect on me now.. 🙁 haha
Mocha Mocha Mocha. Although I do want to try that weasel coffee, do you have that in Malaysia?
Great post, never knew there was such a variety over there.
I just like my Aik Cheong in the mawnings
Wah… thanks for making my home town number 1 🙂 That’s my fav when i am back in Ipoh as well.
Hai Peng black coffee is very aromatic and addictive!! =)
oooo…..another coffee KAKI….a coffee a day keeps doctors away.i must have coffee everyday….hainam coffee with evaporated milk(IDEAL) and condensed milk…cheap yet satisfied me;-)
I like Kluang Station’s coffee, heh! Otherwise, in the office, i just want my Nescafe-O with 1 sugar. Chek Hup brand 2-in-1 is also good!
Keeping a list of masala and chai tea latte. I don’t dig coffee. More of a social drinker if there is such a term. Only once a while as too much of this good thing give me the headache!
Hai Peng coffee!!! Then Ipoh White Coffee. 🙂
Erm, I don’t wanna sound bias, but since I like my coffee all milky, creamy and slightly buttery, with a pleasant fragrance, my vote goes to Ipoh’s white coffee.
Chong Kok’s coffee not good already, 1st time was ok, subsequent visits not worthy.
White House was closed that only night we managed to squeeze in some free time. Shucks.
And Penang’s Toh Soon coffee with toasts are perfect, topped with the experience of breakie at the alley.
The others … hehe, not yet tried, so cannot compare.