The Panic is Real.
You know the feeling. You’re at a bustling Singapore hawker centre. The air smells of wok hei and frying garlic. You step up to the drink stall, ready for a caffeine fix. The “Uncle” in the white singlet looks at you, raises an eyebrow, and barks:
“Yes, what you want?”
Your mind goes blank. You wanted an iced coffee with milk but less sugar. You stammer, “Uh, one coffee… cold… a little sweet?”
He shouts to the back: “Kopi Siew Dai Peng!”
You walk away with your drink, relieved but slightly confused. Welcome to the beautiful, complex world of Singaporean Kopi.
At Indie Singapore, we believe that ordering a drink shouldn’t feel like a pop quiz you didn’t study for. It should be your first step into feeling like a true local. That’s why we’ve created a little magic trick to help you out.
✨ Meet Your New Best Friend: The Kopi Generator ✨
We built this interactive tool just for you. No more guessing, no more pointing. Just toggle your preferences, and we’ll tell you exactly what to say to the Uncle or Aunty.
Kopi Thiam Decoder
Master art of ordering coffee and tea in Singapore
Build Your Drink
Drink Composition
Secret Menu & Special Orders
Click a secret item to see its composition.
Kopi Thiam Lingo Cheat Sheet
Why is Kopi so Special?
Before you master the lingo, you have to respect the brew. Singaporean Kopi (the Malay word for Coffee) isn’t your typical espresso.
It’s robust. It’s tenacious. It’s got kick.
The beans—usually Robusta—are roasted with margarine (sometimes butter) and sugar until they are dark and glossy. They are ground and brewed in a long “sock” filter, resulting in a thick, aromatic, and highly caffeinated base. It is traditionally stirred with condensed milk, which settles at the bottom of the cup like liquid gold.
It is the fuel that powers our nation, from the boardroom executives to the taxi drivers.
In Singapore, we love our coffee (and tea), but it takes a literal flow chart to be able to order your perfect blend.
Kudos to the folks at The Sunday Times for this gorgeous infographic. Just replace the “Kopi” with “Teh” and you can order tea that is “just nice” for you
Join us for a cuppa on our Traditional Taste tour or our walk through Kampong Glam to find out more about the uniquely Singaporean coffeeshop culture!