Interactive
Build your perfect kopitiam order. Pick your preferences and we will tell you exactly what to say at the drink stall.
Coffee or Tea?
Milk?
Sweetness?
Strength?
Temperature?
Your Order
Kopi
Coffee, condensed milk, with sugar, served hot.
Walk up to the drink stall. Say this clearly. Collect your drink.
Reference
Every kopitiam term you might hear, where it comes from, and what it actually means in your drink.
No milk, with sugar
Hokkien for 'black'
Kopi O = Black coffee with sugar
Evaporated milk instead of condensed milk
From 'Carnation' brand evaporated milk
Teh C = Tea with evaporated milk
No sugar, no milk
Malay for 'zero' or 'empty'
Kopi O Kosong = Black coffee, no sugar
Iced
Hokkien for 'ice'
Teh Peng = Iced tea with condensed milk
Extra thick and strong
Hokkien for 'thick'
Kopi Gao = Extra strong coffee
Weak and diluted
Hokkien for 'thin'
Kopi Po = Weak coffee
Less sweet
Cantonese for 'little sugar'
Teh C Siu Dai = Tea with evaporated milk, less sweet
Extra sweet
Cantonese for 'add sugar'
Kopi Ga Dai = Extra sweet coffee
Extra condensed milk
Hokkien/Cantonese
Teh Di Lo = Tea with extra condensed milk
Half hot — warm but drinkable, not scalding
Hokkien 半烧, literally 'half burn'
Kopi Ban Siu = Warm coffee, not too hot
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