Basic Kopi Types

Kopi-o: Coffee without milk (Literally, coffee black)
Kopi: Coffee with condensed milk
Kopi-c: Coffee with evaporated milk

Condensed milk, also known as sweetened condensed milk, is cow’s milk from which water has been removed and to which sugar has been added, yielding a very thick, sweet product that can last for years without refrigeration if unopened. The two terms, condensed milk and sweetened condensed milk, have become synonymous; though there have been unsweetened condensed milk products, today these are uncommon. Condensed milk is used in numerous dessert dishes in many countries.

Evaporated milk is a shelf-stable canned milk product with about 60% of the water removed from fresh milk. In the U.S., it is not sweetened. In other countries, such as Malaysia it is sweetened. It differs from condensed milk which contains sugar. Condensed milk requires less processing because the added sugar inhibits bacterial growth.

The Singapore Kopitiam

Kopitiams are commonly found in Singapore. These are coffee places unique to Singapore. (Kopitiam – kopi is Malay for coffee; tiam is Hokkien for shop)

Don’t use fancy terms such as “skinny, double tall decaf latte”. Say “kopi”. Or “teh” if you prefer tea. And customise it with the following options:

Add-ons:

Peng: With ice
Po: Weak, made with more water and less coffee
Gao: Strong, made with more coffee and less water
Di lo: All coffee, no water
Ga dai: More sugar
Siu dai: Less sugar
Kosong: No sugar

So if you want a coffee with more sugar, it’ll be "kopi ga dai"!

Top 10 Kopitiams in Singapore

These are long-established kopitiams that are popular haunts of Singaporeans. Try them out!

Chin Mee Chin Confectionery
204 East Coast Road
Open: 8am to 430pm, closed on Mondays
Famous for: Kopi 80 cents, custard puffs 70 cents, cream horns 70 cents

Keng Wah Sung
781-783 Geylang Road (junction of Lorong 41)

Open: 6am to midnight daily
Famous for: Kopi 80 cents, kaya toast 50 cents, fishball noodles $2

Killiney Kopitiam
67 Killiney Road
Open: Every day 6am to 11pm; Tue, Sun & Public holidays 6am to 6pm
Famous for: kopi-o 90 cents, two slices of kaya toast $1.40

Tai Kwang Huat & Company
Block 57 Eng Hoon Street 01-88
Open: 630am to 3pm, closed every alternate Thursday
Famous for: kopi-o 70 cents, teh-si 90 cents

Millie’s Coffee House
Block 5 Changi Village Road 01-2035

Open: 24 hours
Famous for: Kopi 80 cents, kaya toast 80 cents, curry fish head $10

Tong Ah Eating House
36 Keong Saik Road
Open: 630am to 10pm, alternate Wednesdays 630am to 2pm
Famous for: kopi-o 70 cents, thin slices of kaya toast $1.40, thick slices of kaya toast $1

Top Eating House

Block 727 Clementi West Street 2
Open: 24 hours
Famous for: kopi-o 70 cents

Ya Kun Kaya Toast
18 China Street 01-01 Far East Square
Open: 730am to 8pm (weekdays) 8am to 6pm (weekends)
Famous for: Kopi $1, kaya toast $1.70

Wah Yen
Block 23 Sin Ming Road 01-01
Open: 7am to midnight
Famous for: kopi 60 cents, kaya toast 50 cents, teochew porridge $2 for 3 dishes

YY Kafeidian
37 Beach Road 01-01
Open: 8am to 1030pm daily

Famous for: Kopi 80 cents, kaya toast $1, fried beancurd $6