As Ipoh is the birthplace of Ipoh White Coffee, you have to try a cup of the comforting aromatic beverage while you are here!
In fact, visiting an Ipoh coffee shop is one of the things you must do in Ipoh!
For the best coffee in Ipoh, refer to this list of kopitiam (coffee shops in the local lingo) that serve up authentic Ipoh White Coffee!
Table of contents:
- Why Is It Called White Coffee?
- The Origin Of Ipoh White Coffee
- Best Ipoh White Coffee Shop
- Private Tour Service In Ipoh
Let’s get this straight:
Why Is It called White Coffee?
You might think the name is referring to the color but white coffee actually gets its name from the way it is prepared:
Unlike other methods, the beans for white coffee are roasted with just palm oil margarine.
Instead of being roasted together with sugar and wheat as well as margarine.
This gives the coffee a distinctive taste!
The Origin Of Ipoh White Coffee
There are a couple of coffee shops (Sin Yoon Loong and Nam Heong in particular) that have long been competing for the honor of being labeled as the pioneer of Ipoh White Coffee.
But it can be agreed that Ipoh White Coffee came from Ipoh Old Town or more precisely, Jalan Bandar Timah (formerly known as Leech Street).
Best Ipoh White Coffee Shop
Every kopitiam has their own special way of preparing pak ko pi (Cantonese dialect for white coffee) so try to sample the coffee at a few of these places, if you can!
By the way, Ipoh White Coffee goes along great with any of the best Ipoh food!
1. Sin Yoon Loong
Having being in action for more than 80 years, Sin Yoon Loong has a good claim to being the pioneer of Ipoh White Coffee!
Ambiance-wise, this is as traditional as a kopitiam gets! Their coffee is aromatic and smooth with a rich taste!
For those who want to enjoy their coffee at home, you can buy pre-packaged white coffee at the counter or have it delivered from their Facebook page.
They have a second branch which opens at 7am but is just as crowded!
Recommended dishes:
- Soft-boiled eggs on toast
- Kaya toast
- Roast pork (sells out in the morning)
- Wan ton mee
- Chee cheong fan with curry
Address: 15a, Jalan Bandar Timah, 30000 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Opening hours: 6am to 5:30pm every day except on Sundays (6am to 1pm)
Second branch: Medan Bendahara 2, Taman Taiping, 31650 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Halal: No
2. Kedai Kopi Nam Heong
For a strong rendition of Ipoh white coffee, you can try this local kopitiam. The maiden branch is on Jalan Bandar Timah.
There is lots of good food to be had here, especially their egg tarts fresh out of the oven!
They have sets available on Foodpanda and Grab! You can even find discounts for their store on Shopee!
Their second trendier branch is over at Ipoh Soho but not as popular! Although if you like coffee with a milky taste, then you might prefer the one at this branch!
Recommended dishes:
- Egg tarts
- Soy milk
- Muah chee (rice flour topped with crushed peanuts)
- Char siew puff
We have other favorites from Nam Heong White Coffee Shop.
Address: 2, Jalan Bandar Timah, 30000 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Opening hours: 7am to 5:30pm
Second Ipoh branch: Nam Heong Food Court, Solo Ipoh at Blok B, 2-14 Soho Ipoh, Jalan Sultan Iskandar Shah, 30000 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Halal: No
3. Xin Xiang Er Nong
Like Nam Heong, this kopitiam offers a strong version of Ipoh white coffee with pretty clear taste of evaporated milk and just a hint of sour!
This is not a bad spot for lunch too! Their curry mee is tasty!
Recommended dishes:
- Chap fun (Fondly known as economy rice – you get a plate of rice and choose from a medley of dishes)
- kai see hor fun (Flat white rice noodles in a yummy prawn broth sprinkled with chopped spring onions and shredded chicken. Sometimes with beansprouts too!)
- Curry mee (Noodles and curry – there’s a wet and dry version)
Address: 75, Jalan Tokong, Taman Hoover, 31650 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Halal: No
4. Yee Hoi Coffee & Food Manufacturing Sdn Bhd
This 50-year old shop at Pasar Besar Ipoh still sells their unique and delicious coffee blends to the masses!
You can literally smell the coffee before you enter the shop!
Choose between robust and Arabica beans, whole or ground. Instant coffee powder (Fine) is available too!
Take a packet home or have a fresh cup of Ipoh white coffee there! Or both!
Address: C62, Pasar Besar Ipoh, Jalan Laxamana, Taman Jubilee, 30300 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Opening hours: 8am to 4pm (Closed on Mondays)
Halal: NA
5. Chang Jiang White Coffee
You can get a cup of Ipoh white coffee and kaya toast with dairy butter at this incredibly charming kopitiam/ cafe!
The café is located in a small bungalow with limited parking spots!
The husband and wife duo, Kong Kin Loong and Foong Choa Mun have been running this shop since 2015.
Coffee beans here come from a variety of sources – Liberica (Klang), Robusta (Indonesia) and Arabica (Vietnam).
The white coffee here is smooth and has a layer of foam on top for extra smoothness! There is a fragrant aftertaste too!
3-in-1 white coffee sachets are also available for purchase at the shop.
See what else you can order at Chang Jiang White Coffee Cafe.
Address: 7 Jalan Windsor, 30250 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Opening hours: 8am to 6pm
Remarks: Might be closed during the first week of Chinese New Year
Halal: No
6. Aneka Selera Restaurant Kam Wan
Fancy a cup of Ipoh white coffee at night? This is the place for you!
Aneka Selera Restaurant Kam Wan is a hawker center that makes for an awesome all-in-one spot to try local food (including seafood) as well as Ipoh white coffee.
The coffee here is robust but has just enough milk added to offset the bitterness!
Recommended dishes:
- Chee cheong fun
- Claypot chicken rice
- Popiah
Address: Taman Canning, 31400 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Opening hours: 5:30pm to 11:30pm
Remarks: Free parking around the center! Quite crowded at night.
Halal: No
7. Lou Shang Café (Permanently Closed)
A hidden upstairs shop lot, Lou Shang overlooks the busy streets of Ipoh Old Town.
This simple and elegant spot is the perfect place to relax, sip your coffee and enjoy a variety of food.
Their rustic vibe pairs well with the nostalgic menu. While the menu is limited, the food and drinks (including the Ipoh white coffee) are good.
They even deliver and are available on Grab as well!
Recommended dishes:
- Milo and toast (you can request for butter)
- Egg tart
Address: 1st Floor, 101A, Jalan Sultan Iskandar, 30000 Ipoh, Perak
Opening hours: 11am to 5pm (closed on Sundays and Mondays)
Halal: No
8. A Jie Cafe 阿洁白咖啡茶坊
A cosy air-conditioned space with vintage kopitiam vibes:
This is a great spot for a freshly prepared cup of smooth coffee! This place is often frequented by locals in the morning.
The home-cooked dishes are worth trying!
Recommended dishes:
- Pork porridge
- Toast with kaya
- Nasi kerabu
- Traditional Hainanese black coffee
Address: 61, Persiaran Tokong, Taman Hoover, 31650 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Opening hours: 9:30am to 5pm (Closed on Mondays)
Halal: No
9. Kedai Kopi Ah Chow
Got a thing for Bailey’s? The kopi o kosong here tastes similar!
Ah Chow kopitiam is well known for its alcohol-laced white coffee served in dainty china cups!
You will often find a crowd here so it’s best to know what you want before you order!
This version of Ipoh white coffee is on the sweet side – which is great if you like your coffee that way!
Address: 31 Jalan Bandar Timah, 30000 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Opening hours: 6:30am to 1pm every day except Sunday when they close at 2pm instead.
Halal: No
10. Kedai Kopi Nam Chau
It may well be their curry mee that draws the crowd but Nam Chau also serves a creamy cup of white coffee (or smoky black coffee if you prefer)!
The coffee is neither too bitter nor too sweet with well-balanced portions of milk and coffee!
Read about our full experience at Nam Chau Coffee Shop.
Address: 54, Jalan Bandar Timah, Ipoh, 30000, Perak, Malaysia
Opening hours: 7:30am to 3:30pm (Closed on Wednesdays)
Halal: No
11. Restoran Sin Lean Lee
Restoran Sin Lean Lee is another typical plain kopitiam that prepares a robust white coffee which you can order hot or with ice!
Either way, the coffee flavour will be strong!
While you’re here, don’t forget to try their “golden” char kuay teow.
These are flat noodles fried with beansprouts, shrimp or cockles and egg. It’s the Sunny-side up on top that gives the dish its name!
Address: 15, Jalan Panglima, 30000 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Opening hours: 6am to 2pm (Closed on Tuesdays)
Halal: No
12. Lim Ko Pi 啉咖啡
You can easily spot this red building from the road. It’s a bit inconvenient to drop by here during peak hours but the lack of parking doesn’t deter would-be patrons of this café!
Either walk or take a Grab here. Or you can park in a back alley a few lanes away and walk over if you’re not lucky enough to get one of the few parking spots nearby!
The name of the shop directly translate to “drink coffee” from the Hokkien dialect and that’s what you should do!
Enjoy a cup of smooth, sweetish and aromatic white coffee in the quaint kopitiam. Which by the way, is pretty Instagrammable too!
Recommended dishes:
- Curry noodles
- Soft-boiled egg and kaya toast
- Garlic fried rice
- Mee Jawa
- Ice kacang
Read more about what we think about Lim Ko Pi.
Address: 10, Jalan Sultan Iskandar, 30000 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Opening hours: 9am to 4:30pm (Closed on Mondays)
Halal: No
13. Moon De Moon
Don’t say you weren’t warned!
Even in the early morning, this coffee shop is often packed which makes the service unreliable at times but doesn’t stop people from coming!
Their appetizing and affordable local dishes are a hit with both locals and tourists!
Their white coffee comes off as sweet so get the iced version to go with your meal!
Recommended dishes:
- Chee cheong fun
- Kai se hor fun
- Curry mee
Address: 148, Hala Wah Keong, Taman Mirindi, 31400 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Opening hours: 7am to 1pm (Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays)
Halal: No
14. Kong’s White Coffee Kopitiam (江氏白咖啡)
This is the lesser known branch of the Chang Jiang White Coffee shop on Jalan Windsor.
The ambiance is plain but you can have their thick, creamy and sweet white coffee at almost any hour of the day since they open early and close late!
You can see many people taking away orders of the coffee during the day!
Recommended dishes: Nasi Lemak
Address: 171, Jalan Pasir Puteh, Taman Taiping, 31650 Ipoh, Perak, Malaysia
Opening hours: 8:30am to 12am
Halal: No for Kopitiam, Yes for Kong’s product
15. Kedai Kopi Sun Yuan Foong Coffee Shop
Just opposite Kedai Kopi Nam Heong is another breakfast spot in Ipoh!
Pair the iced white coffee with their eggs on toast for a match made in heaven!
If you’re looking for egg tarts, they have them here too!
Recommended dishes:
- Chee cheong fun
- Curry noodles
- Soup noodles
16. Addon White Coffee Ipoh
Addon White Coffee Ipoh is one of the newer coffee shops around Ipoh Old Town. But it is halal and has longer opening hours than its peers!
You’ll get lovely ambiance and big portions here along with a superb selection of coffee!
If you’ve been here before, take note that they have recently moved.
Recommended dishes:
- Nasi Lemak
- Nasi goreng
- Beef noodle soup
Address: 49, Jalan Raja Musa Aziz, Kampung Jawa, 30450 Ipoh, Perak
Opening hours: 10am to 10pm
Halal: Yes
17. Ipoh Old Town White Coffee (Ipoh Padang)
Despite there being a couple of Ipoh Old Town White Coffee branches in Ipoh, this one faces Ipoh Padang!
Don’t expect the menu to have anything different from the other branches though!
The white coffee here is strong which is great if you need a pick-me-up before starting on a street mural hunt! There are a few around this coffee shop!
Parking can be sparse during busy times!
Read more:
- 5 Famous Ipoh Peanut Candy Stores To Check Out In Ipoh
- 9 Best Chicken Rice In Ipoh
- 9 Famous Salted Chicken In Ipoh That You Should Try
- 13 Best Chinese Restaurants In Ipoh
- 15 Best Western Restaurants In Ipoh
- 13 Fun Things To Do In Ipoh At Night
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Conclusion
We get it. It’s confusing to choose a kopitiam in Ipoh serving classic Ipoh white coffee with so many good ones around!
Here’s a summary according to your taste buds:
- Sweet and light – Ah Chow, Addon White Coffee Ipoh, Kong’s White Coffee, Moon De Moon, Lim Ko Pi
- Moderate – Sin Yoon Loong, Nam Chau, Nam Heong, Aneka Selera Restaurant Kam Wan
- Strong – Restoran Sin Lean Lee, Xin Xiang Er Nong, Chang Jiang
Ipoh white coffee for us is definitely on the list of classic Malaysian food and drinks to try, and we do not mean the packet version!
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