Kopi tiam: Difference between revisions

A '''''kopitiam''''' or '''''kopi tiam''''' ({{zh|c=咖啡店|p=kāfēi diàn|l=coffee shop|poj=ko-pi-tiàm}}) is a type of [[Coffeehouse|coffee shop]] mostly found in parts of [[Indonesia]], [[Malaysia]], [[Singapore]], [[Brunei]] and [[Southern Thailand]] patronised for meals and [[Drink|beverages]], and traditionally operated by the [[Overseas Chinese|Chinese]] community of these countries. The word ''[[kopi (drink)|kopi]]'' is an Indonesian and Malay term for ''coffee'' and ''tiam'' is the [[Min Nan|Hokkien]]/[[Hakka Chinese|Hakka]] term for ''shop'' ({{lang|zh|{{linktext|店}}}}). MenusTraditional kopitiam menus typically feature simple offerings: a variety of foods based on [[egg (food)|egg]], [[Toast (food)|toast]], [[kaya (jam)|kaya]], plus coffee, tea, [[Horlicks]] and [[Milo (drink)|Milo]]. Modern kopitiams typically feature multiple food stalls that offer a wider range of foods.

* food in a kopitiam is usually exclusively [[Malaysian Chinese cuisine]];{{citation needed|date=November 2015}}

* [[food courts]] and [[hawker centres]] are usually not referred to as kopitiams.

Recently a new breed of "modern" kopitiams havehas sprung up. The popularity of the old-fashioned outlets along with society's obsession with nostalgia and increasing affluence has led to the revival of these pseudo-kopitiams. The new kopitiams are fast-food outlets whichthat are reminiscent of the old kopitiams in terms of decor, but are usually built in a more modern, hygienic setting such as a shopping mall rather than in the traditional shophouse, catering mainly for young adults.

To offer the true kopitiam experience, modern kopitiams mostly offer authentic local coffee brews, [[roti bakar|charcoal grilled toast]] served with butter and [[Kaya (jam)|kaya]] (a local version of jam made from coconut milk and eggs), and soft-boiled eggs. Some have extended menus where local breakfast, lunch, and dinner meals are served. To tap into the sizeable [[Muslim]] market, these kopitiams usually serve food that is prepared to conform to [[Islamic dietary laws]], unlike the traditional shophouse kopitiams.

Kopitiams in Ipoh oldtownOldtown district serve [[Ipoh white coffee]]. The coffee beans are roasted with palm-oil [[margarine]] and with less sugar, resulting in a brew that is lighter in colour than normal coffee beans that usesuse sugar – hence the name 'white coffee'.

''Kopi tiam''s (coffee shops)Kopitiams in Singapore are commonly found in almost all residential areas as well as some industrial and business districts in the country, numbering about 2,000 in total.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.straitstimes.com/Prime%2BNews/Story/STIStory_222798.html|title=The Straits Times Interactive<!-- Bot generated title -->|website=straitstimes.com}}</ref> Although most are an aggregate of small stalls or shops, some may be more reminiscent of [[food court]]s, although each stall hasa similar appearance and the same style of signage. In a typical kopi tiamkopitiam, the drinks stall is usually run by the owner who sells [[coffee]], [[tea]], [[soft drinks]], and other beverages as well as breakfast items like [[kaya toast]], [[soft-boiled egg]]s, and snacks. The other stalls are leased by the owner to independent stallholders who prepare a variety of food dishes, often featuring the [[cuisine of Singapore]]. Traditional dishes from different ethnicities are usually available at kopitiams to encourage people from different ethnic backgrounds with different dietary habits to dine in a common place or even at a common table.<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Eng|first1=Lai Ah|last2=Leo|first2=Collins, Francis|last3=Brenda|first3=Yeoh, Saw Ai|date=2012|title=The Kopitiam in Singapore: An Evolving Story about Migration and Cultural Diversity|url=https://muse.jhu.edu/chapter/877221|journal=Migration and Diversity in Asian Contexts|doi=10.1355/9789814380461-011 |language=en|url-access=subscription|via=Project MUSE}}</ref>

In Singapore, the coffee in kopitiams is made from Robusta beans. [[Kopi (drink)|Kopi]] (coffee) was createdintroduced whento Singaporethe startedisland itsin developmentthe andmid-19th hadcentury. toRobusta caterbeans, tobrought in from Indonesia via Arab traders, were preferred by the needsmajority of the Europeanlocal population, –compared specificallyto theirthe lovemore forexpensive coffeeArabica beans favoured by the European population working in Singapore.<ref>{{Citecite web | url=https://www.culturallytheculturetrip.cocom/blogasia/introductionsingapore/articles/what-tomakes-singapore-ssingapores-coffee-culture-so-unique | title=IntroductionWhat toMakes Singapore's Coffee Culture So Unique? |website date=Culturally21 February 2018 }}</ref>

Some of the popular kopi tiamskopitiams in Singapore include Kim San Leng, [[Killiney Kopitiam|Killiney]] & Tong Ah Eating House, or [[Ya Kun Kaya Toast]].

Some of the more common foods that can be seen in kopi tiamskopitiams, besides the ever-popular soft-boiled eggs and toast, consist of [[char kway tiao]] (fried flat rice noodles ([[hor fun]]), sometimes cooked with eggs and [[Cockle (bivalve)|cockles]]), Hokkien mee (yellow wheat noodles served with various seafood as well as egg) and, possibly the most common, [[nasi lemak, or coconut rice]] (a Malay dish of coconut-flavoured rice, served with [[sambal chilli paste]], egg, androasted peanuts, fried anchovies, etc.).

"Coffee shop talk" is a phrase used to describe gossip because it is often a familiar sight at kopi tiamskopitiams where a group of workers or senior citizens would linger over cups of coffee and exchange news and comments on various topics including national politics, office politics, TV dramas, sports, and food.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.smu.edu.sg/sites/default/files/smu/news_room/smu_in_the_news/2012/sources/ST_20121009_2.pdf|title=Why are kopitiam tables round?|last=Menkhoff|first=Thomas|date=9 October 2012|newspaper=The Straits Times|page=A26}}</ref> Former [[Too Phat]] member Malique has a song called "Cerita Kedai Kopi", satirizing the stereotype.

Atkopi tiamskopitiams, coffee and tea are usually ordered using a specific vernacular featuring terms from different languages. Coffee and tea can be tailored to suit the drinker's taste by usingfirst saying "Kopi" (coffee) or "Teh" (tea) before adding one or more of the following suffixes when ordering:

These are typically chained together to customize a drink order: a "kopi si kosong peng" will result in aan iced coffee with evaporated milk and no sugar. The syntax is “drink – milk – sugar – concentration – temperature”.

* ''Kopi sterng'' = iced coffee extra smooth ({{zh|c=咖啡㗝呸順|p=kā fēi shùn|l=coffee smooth|poj=|s=|t=}})