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.
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.
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.
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!
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!