How to Make Ipoh White Coffee At Home (And Where to Drink It In Ipoh)
As someone who grew up in Malaysia, I know my “kopi” with condensed milk very well but when it came to Ipoh “White” Coffee I always thought it just meant that it was served white. Well, apparently that’s not it – go figure.
On our most recent trip to Malaysia for a Tourism Perak x Masters of Malaysian Cuisine (MOMC) collaboration, our team had the opportunity to visit a number of coffee-serving establishments.
This included Niang Republic and Chang Jiang Kopitiam (organised by Roselyn Lim of the Perak Tourist Guide Association) and Cascada by Magical Beans and Kong Fu Kopitiam (organised by Ben Yap of IpohTreats.com).
So what’s the difference between regular Malaysian kopi and Ipoh white coffee? It’s to do with the roast, actually – Ipoh coffee beans are a less dark roast compared to what you would find elsewhere – hence the “white”.
This makes the coffee taste smoother and less bitter – which, as a non-coffee snob I’ve not paid much attention to in the past, but have now come to notice and appreciate every time I order kopi in Ipoh.
Also, the beans used in Ipoh are typically a blend of Liberica (Malaysian), Arabica, and Robusta, slow-roasted in palm oil/butter/margarine.
In this demo, Michael Tan, the owner of Cascada by Magical Beans, explains the process of making Ipoh White Coffee –
It’s clearly a better option to drink Ipoh White Coffee in Ipoh itself, but if you can’t wait, here’s the recipe extracted from Michael Tan’s explanation and re-jigged for a 2-cup serve at home –
IPOH WHITE COFFEE HOME RECIPE
Adapted from Michael Tan, Cascada by Magical Beans, Ipoh
INGREDIENTS:
70g coarse-ground Ipoh White Coffee Powder
270ml boiling water
190ml evaporated milk
65g condensed milk (iced) or 35g (hot)
METHOD:
- Bring water to a full rolling boil.
- Place coffee powder into a coffee sock (or cloth filter bag) set over a heatproof jug.
- Pour the boiling water over the grounds. Cover and steep for 15 minutes.
- Lift the sock and let it drain.
- For hot coffee, warm it gently before adding milk – don’t reboil. For iced coffee, proceed straight to the next step.
- Add evaporated milk and condensed milk. Stir well, or pour back and forth between two jugs tarik-style to blend and aerate.
- For iced coffee – pour over ice. For hot coffee – pour and serve.
Condensed milk quantities are a starting point. Adjust to taste, and if you’re making iced coffee, remember the ice will dilute as it melts – lean slightly sweeter than you think you need.
Next time you visit an Asian grocery store, see if you can track down Malaysian coffee powder to get the best results. Here’s an example, from the factory we visited – they come in different varieties eg. 3-in-1 (coffee plus sugar plus creamer), 2-in-1 (coffee plus sugar), or just straight up coffee (which is what you want if you’re using the recipe above) –
To make kopi O (black coffee, Malaysian style) from the same base: dilute 50/50 with hot water, add sugar to taste, or leave it unsweetened as kopi O kosong.
By the way, at almost every place we visited, we were offered Ipoh White Coffee served with a piece of butter – which looked very cool and added a silky, slightly savoury hint to the coffee.
I was told this was a throwback to the early years of Chinese migration to Southeast Asia, which has made a comeback in recent years (and nothing to do with the Bulletproof Coffee craze).
Next time you visit Ipoh, here are the places you should absolutely check out, not just for their Ipoh White Coffee but also for their food –
Cascada by Magical Beans PT8299, Jalan Johan 2/6, Kawasan Perindustrian Pengkalan 2, 31550 Pusing, Perak Tel: +60 13-580 8825 Hours: Daily 9am – 6pm
Chang Jiang White Coffee 7, Jalan Windsor, 30250 Ipoh, Perak Tel: 05-253 8896 Hours: Daily 8am – 6pm
Kong Fu Kopitiam 39, Jalan Panglima, 30000 Ipoh, Perak Tel: +60 17-733 1928 Hours: 9am – 5pm, closed Wednesdays
Niang Republic 14, Jalan Bijeh Timah, 30000 Ipoh, Perak Hours: 11am – 5.30pm, closed Tuesdays
Want more recipes, eating guides and articles? Grab your copy of our latest Truly Malaysian by MOMC digital magazine here – it’s completely free – (click here to download or view the magazine) –
