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Kopi Order Decoder

Decode kopitiam lingo like “Kopi C siew dai peng”, with a full glossary of terms.

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Kopitiam glossary

Drinks

  • KopiCoffee, by default with condensed milk (sweet).
  • TehTea, by default with condensed milk (sweet).
  • MiloChocolate malt drink.
  • Yuan YangCoffee mixed with tea.
  • BandungRose syrup with milk (pink).
  • HorlicksMalted milk drink.
  • Tak KiuMilo (“football”, from the tin's logo).

Milk

  • ONo milk - black, sweetened with sugar only.
  • CWith evaporated milk instead of condensed milk (plus sugar).

Sugar

  • KosongNo sugar (“empty”).
  • Siew DaiLess sugar.
  • Gah DaiExtra sugar / sweeter.

Temperature

  • PengIced / cold.

Strength

  • GauExtra thick / strong (more coffee or tea).
  • PohWeaker / more diluted.
  • Di LoExtra thick and undiluted, poured straight from the sock.

Extras

  • TarikPulled - poured between cups for a frothy top.
  • Da BaoTakeaway, packed to go.

Order builds up as drink + milk + sugar + temperature, e.g. “Teh C kosong peng” is iced tea with evaporated milk and no sugar. Spellings vary from stall to stall, so a few common ones are accepted.

Kopitiam lingo varies from stall to stall and this is a friendly guide, not an official one. When in doubt, just point and smile.