As Malaysians, one thing we are all proud of is our food and beverages! It’s undeniable—Malaysian cuisine was ranked the 39th best in the world according to the 2022 TasteAtlas Awards!
Amazing, right?
The most iconic spot for foodies in Malaysia is our kopitiam. But what exactly is a kopitiam? The word “kopitiam” combines the Malay word kopi, meaning coffee, with the Hokkien word tiam, meaning shop. A direct translation would be "coffee shop".
And let’s not forget—the best part of a kopitiam is the drinks served there. Forget about Americanos or lattes; we have our own unique coffee styles, with slight differences that only Malaysians truly understand. But wait—does everyone know these differences?
Let’s take a quick refresher on the different types of coffee you’ll find in a Malaysian kopitiam!
Kopi, Kopi O, Kopi C: What's the difference?
- Kopi
Kopi is the classic coffee drink most people order at a kopitiam. It’s made with coffee and condensed milk, sometimes with added sugar. Another popular term is kaw- as in Kopi Kaw - which refers to a strong, concentrated coffee. In Hokkien, kaw means “thick” or “strong”.
- Kopi C
Kopi C is made with coffee, evaporated milk, and sugar. The key difference between Kopi and Kopi C lies in the type of milk used.
Additional Information:
- Condensed Milk: Made from concentrated cow’s milk, with the water content reduced by about 60%. Sugar is added as a preservative, giving the milk a thicker consistency and a shelf life of up to two years.
- Evaporated Milk: Also made from concentrated cow’s milk with 60% less water, but little to no sugar is added, making it unsweetened compared to condensed milk.
- Kopi C Kosong
This is similar to kopi C, but kosong (meaning "zero" in Malay) indicates no added sugar. Kopi C Kosong is made with coffee and evaporated milk only.
- Kopi O
Kopi O is made with coffee and sugar—no condensed or evaporated milk.
- Kopi O Kosong
Kopi O Kosong is simply black coffee with no sugar, making it the healthiest option among kopitiam coffee variations.
Picture credit to Malay Mail
Enough about coffee, now let’s discover about Tea choices in Malaysia’s Kopitiam.
Teh Peng, Cham Peng, Kopi Peng: Which is Healthier?
We can say that Malaysians are quite creative with drink combinations. Who would have thought that we could actually combine both coffee and tea together? Not only that, but it has also become one of the most iconic drinks in kopitiams.
Let’s explore the differences between these combinations. Wondering why there’s the word “peng”? The word “peng” means “ice” in Hokkien.
- Teh Peng
Teh Peng is made with black tea, condensed milk, and sugar. With the word peng, it means "Teh Ice" or "Iced Tea".
- Kopi Peng
Kopi Peng is similar to kopi, made with black coffee, condensed milk, sugar, and additional ice.
- Cham Peng
This unique flavor combines black tea and coffee with condensed milk and sugar.
We all love to hang out or “lepak” at kopitiams, and there’s no excuse not to enjoy drinks in a healthier way there.
Now that you know the differences between each type of coffee and tea, the deciding factors for how healthy these drinks are lie in the quantity of condensed milk and sugar used. The best option is to replace condensed milk with evaporated milk or reduce the amount of sugar—simply request less sweetness when ordering your drinks.
Last but not least, for those sensitive to caffeine or struggling with poor sleep quality, teh peng is a better option for you! The key is moderation and making mindful choices. Tweak your order a little to make healthier beverage choices.
If you’re interested in more topics like this, don’t forget to reach out to our Vealth.me app assistant. Share your feedback or request more topics—we look forward to hearing from you!
