Singapore Kopi: How to Order at a Kopitiam

Singapore kopi is the city’s traditional coffee: dark, intense Robusta-based coffee roasted with sugar and margarine, brewed through a cloth bag and served with condensed milk, evaporated milk or simply sugar. To order it at a kopitiam, you combine “kopi” with a few short words: Kopi O for black with sugar, Kopi C for evaporated milk and sugar, and “peng” if you want it iced.

It sounds like a secret code at first, but the system is logical once you know the building blocks. Here is your complete guide.

What Makes Singapore Kopi Different?

Kopi is not just “coffee in Singapore.” It is a distinct style with its own beans, roast and brewing method.

The beans

Traditional kopi is made mostly with Robusta, a species that is naturally bolder, more bitter and higher in caffeine than Arabica. Much of the coffee used in Singapore has historically come from neighboring Indonesia and Vietnam. To understand the differences between species, read our guide to Arabica vs Robusta.

The roast

The signature step is the roast. In the Hainanese style, beans are roasted with sugar and margarine, and sometimes a pinch of salt. The sugar caramelizes around the beans, giving a glossy, very dark coffee with a smoky, toffee-like depth and less sharp bitterness. The fat adds aroma and a rounder mouthfeel. The method has similarities to Spain’s torrefacto roasting, where sugar is also added during roasting.

The brew

Kopi is typically brewed by pouring boiling water over grounds held in a long cloth bag, often nicknamed the “sock.” The brew is then poured back and forth between kettles to aerate and cool it, and the barista dilutes it to the strength the customer orders.

What Is a Kopitiam?

A kopitiam is a traditional coffee shop. The word joins kopi (coffee in Malay) and tiam (shop in Hokkien), a neat summary of Singapore’s multilingual culture. Kopitiams are casual, busy and affordable, and many host several food stalls under one roof.

The classic kopitiam breakfast is kaya toast, toast spread with coconut jam and butter, alongside soft-boiled eggs seasoned with soy sauce and white pepper, plus a cup of kopi.

How to Order Singapore Kopi

Ordering follows a simple pattern: start with “kopi,” add the milk word, then the sweetness, then the strength or temperature. Here are the terms you need.

What the words mean

• O comes from the Hokkien word for black.
• C signals evaporated milk; where the letter came from is still debated.
• Kosong is Malay for empty, meaning no sugar.
• Siew dai means less sweet and gah dai means extra sweet.
• Gao means thick or strong and poh means thin or weak.
• Peng means ice.

Putting it together

Combine the terms in order: Kopi O kosong peng is iced black coffee with no sugar. Kopi C siew dai is coffee with evaporated milk and less sugar. Kopi gao siew dai is a strong coffee with condensed milk and less sweetness.

If you only remember one tip, remember this: plain “kopi” comes with condensed milk and is quite sweet. If you want it black, say O; if you want no sugar, add kosong.

How to Make Kopi-Style Coffee at Home

You can’t easily replicate the sugar and margarine roast in a home kitchen, but you can get close in spirit with a dark, bold coffee and the right milk. This makes 2 cups.

Steps

1. Place the grounds in a cloth coffee filter, a large paper filter or a French press.
2. Pour the boiling water over the grounds and let them steep for 3–4 minutes.
3. Strain the coffee into a jug. For an aerated, kopitiam-style texture, pour it between two jugs a few times.
4. Add condensed milk to the bottom of each cup for kopi, or evaporated milk and sugar for kopi C.
5. Pour the hot coffee over the milk and stir well.

Variations

• Kopi peng: brew stronger, stir in condensed milk, then pour over a glass of ice.
• Kopi O kosong: skip milk and sugar for a pure, bold black coffee.
• Kopi gao: use 5–6 tablespoons of coffee for the same amount of water.
• Kopi cham: mix equal parts strong coffee and strong black tea with milk.

Condensed milk coffees are popular across Southeast Asia. Compare with Vietnamese iced coffee and Thai iced coffee.

Singapore Kopi FAQ

What is the difference between Kopi O and Kopi C?

Kopi O is black coffee with sugar and no milk. Kopi C is coffee with evaporated milk and sugar. Add “kosong” to either one if you do not want sugar.

Why is kopi roasted with margarine and sugar?

Roasting with sugar caramelizes the beans, softening bitterness and adding a smoky, toffee-like depth. The fat adds aroma and body. Together they create the dark, glossy beans and the rich flavor kopi is known for.

Is Singapore kopi strong?

Yes, traditionally it is bold and intense because it uses Robusta beans and a very dark roast. You can adjust the strength when ordering: say gao for stronger or poh for weaker.

What does kopi peng mean?

Kopi peng is iced coffee with condensed milk and sugar. “Peng” means ice, so you can add it to any order, such as Kopi O peng for iced black coffee with sugar.

Your Kopitiam Cheat Sheet

Start with kopi, add O or C, then kosong, siew dai, gao or peng as you like. With those few words you can order exactly the cup you want at any kopitiam in Singapore.

To recreate that bold profile at home, try Feel Espresso’s Robusta from West Java, or the heavy-bodied Asian Plateau Blend. Prefer a darker, smoky cup? Our Italian Roast pairs well with condensed milk. Every coffee order is roasted 1–5 days before delivery.