Kopi (Singapore-Style Coffee with Condensed Milk)
In short: Strong dark-roast coffee brewed through a cloth filter or press and sweetened with condensed milk, the everyday cup at Singapore's coffee shops. It takes about 13 min in total and makes 2 servings.
- Prep
- 5 min
- Cook
- 8 min
- Total
- 13 min
- Servings
- 2
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Calories
- 120 kcal
Kopi is the coffee Singapore drinks at breakfast, after lunch and at any hour at the neighborhood coffee shop. It is brewed very strong from dark-roasted beans, traditionally through a cloth filter, then sweetened with condensed milk. Orders follow a simple code: kopi O is black with sugar, kopi C uses evaporated milk, and peng means iced. It is the usual partner for kaya toast and soft-boiled eggs.
Instructions
- Rinse a coffee press, jug or cloth filter with hot water to warm it.
- Add the ground coffee, then pour in the hot water slowly, wetting all the grounds. Stir once and steep for 4 minutes.
- Spoon about 1 1/2 tablespoons of condensed milk into each cup.
- Press or strain the coffee, then pour it into the cups, about 200 ml (3/4 cup) each. Stir well.
- Taste and add more condensed milk for sweetness or a splash of hot water to soften the strength. For kopi peng, pour over a glass full of ice.
Tips
- Singapore kopi is traditionally made from robusta beans roasted dark. Any very dark, strong roast gives a close result, and a splash of hot water tames it.
- For a frothy cup, pour the coffee between two jugs from a height three or four times before serving. This also cools it a little.
Questions and answers
What do kopi, kopi O and kopi C mean?
Kopi is coffee with condensed milk. Kopi O is black with sugar, and kopi C is made with evaporated milk and sugar. Add kosong for no sugar and peng for iced.
Can I make kopi without a cloth filter?
Yes. A French press, moka pot or paper filter all work, as long as the coffee is brewed strong.
Is Singapore kopi stronger than regular coffee?
It tastes bolder and more bitter before the milk goes in, because of the dark roast and strong brew. The caffeine in a cup is similar to other strong coffees.
How long does it take to make Kopi (Singapore-Style Coffee with Condensed Milk)?
About 13 min in total: 5 min of preparation and 8 min of cooking.
How many calories are in Kopi (Singapore-Style Coffee with Condensed Milk)?
About 120 kcal per serving, with 3 g of protein, 20 g of carbohydrates and 3 g of fat. These values are estimates.
Nutrition per serving
| Calories | 120 kcal |
|---|---|
| Protein | 3 g |
| Carbohydrates | 20 g |
| Fat | 3 g |
| Fiber | 0 g |
| Sugar | 20 g |
| Sodium | 45 mg |
Estimated values, calculated from the ingredients.
