The friendly faces behind the counter, the warm greetings and the personalised touch all add up to the cosiness of this café in Bandar Botanic, Klang.
Speaking to FMT, Zabedee Chiang, 34, one of the owners of Coffee Ink, said going the extra mile to ensure every customer had a pleasant experience while at their café was something the team prided themselves on.
“After all, our customers can go anywhere to have a cup of coffee, so we give them a personalized touch when they are here. It’s the small things that matter.”
Another owner, Choo Yuan Hao, 34, said, “There’s a lot of heart in this place and that’s one of the main things that keeps us going.”
Chiang shared that when they started in 2012, they only served coffee, a few other beverages and cakes. A year later, they added a hot kitchen after customers began requesting food. “We wanted to stay relevant to our customers,” he explained.
Choo added that over the years, their menu evolved and became more fusion-based to cater to the local demographics.
“In fact, there is a unique story behind each food item on the menu,” he said, adding that Chiang, who has a background in advertising and loves art, would first draw the food items he had in mind before working with the team to actually cook them.
Today, Coffee Ink has an interesting selection of coffee and non-coffee beverages as well as a variety of food and desserts.
The classic Iced Mocha is served with drizzles of chocolate syrup down the sides of the glass. The brew is strong, with a roasted and fruity taste.
Other coffee-based beverages include the usual suspects – espresso, Americano, flat white, latte, and cappuccino.
The Fresh Red is a unique beverage – a combination of rooibos tea and apple juice. The Rooibos tea is extracted from a coffee machine and added to half a glass of iced apple juice.
High in antioxidants, this Rooibos tea concoction is the perfect thirst quencher. Although it is new to the menu, the Fresh Red is fast gaining popularity.
The Belgian Chocolate or The Belgian, as it is fondly known, is another must-try.
This decadent drink uses authentic Belgian chocolate buttons that are first melted before hot, frothy milk and two different chocolate powders (dark cocoa and milk chocolate) are added in. How sinful is that?
A bit of a health freak? Well, Coffee Ink also serves a variety of homemade kombucha. The Litchi Rosa kombucha is a tangy and slightly sweet blend of lychee, rose, and dragon fruit.
Another is the wild berries and “sereni tea” (black tea kombucha).
Time for dessert! The Biscoff cheesecake is heavenly to say the least – rich, creamy filling with satisfying hints of caramel. For those who enjoy an alcoholic twist in their cakes, the rum and raisin Mille crepe cake is hands down a winner.
There’s also the endearing tiramisu, chocolate cake, and a variety of cheesecakes and Mille crepe cakes.
For those hankering for a good, tasty meal along their coffee and desserts, the stuffed chicken “bomb” ticks all the boxes.
It is essentially chicken meat stuffed with a generous portion of cheese, then wrapped in bacon. It is served with brown sauce, baked potato and grilled vegetables.
Other classics at the café are fried rice, fish and chips, and a variety of pastas, salads, and sandwiches.
Food and drinks aside, a unique feature of this café is the beautiful artwork on display, including paintings of animals and picturesque sceneries.
Chiang says that when they first started, they wanted to bring coffee and art to Klang. “In fact, the name ‘ink’ in Coffee Ink is derived from the ink artwork I used to do,” he explained.
Even the counter, menu boards, and decorative items hung from the ceiling were handmade using recycled materials, and add to the homey feel of the cafe.
Chiang said they also make it a point to employ young locals who can get a taste of working life through their training here whilst earning some pocket money. Their team members are aged between 18 and 24.
“When we look at Coffee Ink today, there’s a sense of pride and satisfaction. Whenever our customers come back, we are happy,” Choo said.
Coffee Ink (Non-halal)
No 19-1
Jalan Remia 3
Bandar Botanic
41200 Klang
Selangor Darul Ehsan
Business Hours:
11am – 8pm : Tuesdays to Sundays