Coffee is known as the nectar of the gods, and it is unsurprising why. Whether it’s latte, cappuccino or a good old cup of kopi ‘o’, having a great cup of joe is a pleasurable experience for many.
Here are five unique coffee places scattered throughout Malaysia to satisfy your coffee cravings.
1. People’s Park Chang Jiang White Coffee, Ipoh
Situated at Ipoh’s Riverfront Park (People’s Park), this quaint coffee shop has a beautifully decorated interior reminiscent of yesteryears.
The highlight of this café, that traces back to the 1970s, is its thick and strong white coffee.
Speaking to FMT, second-generation owner Kong Kin Loong, shared that the coffee beans are roasted at their Ipoh-based factory. These beans are sourced locally as well as from Indonesia and Vietnam.
So popular is their coffee, that it is available for purchase in other states as well as exported overseas.
Kong is also the man behind many of the lovely antique items found at the café, most of which he salvaged and repaired.
Overall, more than just a good cup of coffee and delicious food, this café provides a unique experience of stepping, not just into another world, but also another time – all in beautiful Ipoh.
People’s Park Chang Jiang White Coffee
Kompleks Bangunan Taman Persisiran Sungai Kinta
People’s Park
Jalan Sultan Iskandar
30000 Ipoh, Perak
2. Kopikupi Kampung, Sungai Besar, Selangor
The area surrounding Kopikupi Kampung is quiet and peaceful with only the soft cooing of birds and the gentle rustling of leaves in the paddy fields being audible.
The café was opened in October last year by Mohd Fauzi Azmi. It is a charming double-storey wooden “kampung” house and customers have to enter barefoot, just like you would a dear friend’s home.
Among the highlights here are latte, caramel macchiato, Vietnamese drip coffee and “kopi kampung”, a thick, milky concoction served in a vintage cup commonly used in kopitiams. For the adventurous, try the biscoff and banana latte.
Speaking to FMT, Fauzi, 53, said he roasts the coffee beans himself. No margarine or sugar is used. And he purchases the coffee beans from Brazil, Guatemala, and sometimes Ethiopia and India.
To accompany the coffee, order some light snacks such as toast, nuggets, and “kek batik”.
Kopikupi Kampung
Simpang 3, Loji Sungai Limau
45300 Sungai Besar, Selangor
3. Chop Guan Kee Coffeehouse, Sungai Pelek, Selangor
Located in a renovated old-style wooden structure, this coffeehouse has a rich history too.
It all started in 1943 when Chinese immigrant Teo Hoh Hwa began processing Liberica coffee cherries from plantations in the vicinity that he later sold.
In 1971, his son, Choon Fung, began roasting these beans and supplying the coffee powder to coffee and grocery shops in Sungai Pelek. Today, Choon Fung’s daughters, Shao Hui, Yu Yin and Jerrine, run the business.
In January 2022, the girls opened a lovely café. Among the highlights here are the traditional Nanyang milk coffee, coconut milk coffee and dragon fruit coffee.
Overall, this coffeehouse is a charming blend of modern and traditional – a reflection of the essence of this family business.
Speaking to FMT, Jerrine, 29, shared that their grandfather named the business Chop Guan Kee, which means to “remember the roots”, as he wished for his kin to always remember their family and be grateful.
Chop Guan Kee Coffeehouse
355, Kampung Baru
Sungai Pelek
43950 Selangor
4. Calanthe Art Café, Melaka
Founded in 2005, Calanthe Art Café is not only worth visiting for its picturesque interior, but also the extensive range of coffee products they serve.
Joe Ng Kim Chew started the place to showcase the coffee culture of Malaysia – all 13 states in the country to be exact – which he said offers an authentic and diverse range of flavours and aromas.
One may ask how so many variants of coffee even exist. Apparently, their unique tastes depend on the types of beans used, the addition of other substances and of course, the roasting method.
Speaking to FMT, Ng said: “Brazilian and Colombian coffee taste about the same, but our authentic Malaysian coffee is extremely different. After travelling here and there to look for more coffee, I discovered Malaysia has something very unique we can promote to the world.”
Calanthe Art Café
11, Jalan Hang Kasturi
75250 Melaka
Melaka Bandaraya Bersejarah
5. Kopi 434 Muar, Johor
Kiar Am Sai started Sai Kee Coffee in 1953, in a double-storey wooden house on Jalan Ismail that offered customers a good view of Muar River.
Known as Ah Sai to friends and customers, he was a brave and enterprising 17-year-old when he arrived in Malaya. His speciality was roasting coffee beans the traditional way.
Today, Sai Kee Coffee is still standing in its original spot, but with a large-scale operation. Thus, “Kopi Cap 434” has become a household name in the southern state, with its fame also drawing the odd Singaporean to Muar.
Why 434? The story goes that to make his brand of coffee recognisable to all, he named it after the last three digits of his telephone number. And it is a name that stuck.
Producing over 10 tonnes of the good stuff each day, Sai Kee produces a sizeable range of coffee products as well, each tailored to satisfy one’s caffeine addictions.
Kopi 434
121, Jalan Maharani
84000 Muar, Johor
Be a part of Tourism Malaysia’s ‘Northern Malaysia Coffee Experience’, which offers exciting niche travel packages with discounts of up to 10%. They are up for grabs at participating cafes’ and spas including travel packages. Some of the activities include trips to Antong Coffee Factory in Taiping as well as a relaxing stop for coffee and pastries at Ngopi in Penang’s historic Fort Cornwallis.
While you’re at it, snap and upload your best selfie at participating cafes with the hashtag #MYKopiExperience and stand a chance to win a special prize. This campaign is the first of many beginning with the Northern Region of Malaysia with many more to come from across the country. Learn more here.
