Kopi!

While in Singapore, act like a Singaporean! A belief that should not change even when it comes to drinking a humble coffee.....So I was advised to skip the Starbucks' and instead head to the local 'Specialty' or 'Coffee Kaki' vendor for a brew of South Asian Coffee. 

Now, it's not as simple as walking into the shop and ordering for a coffee. For starters, you have to say Kopi and not Coffee, else you will simply be served a Cappacino like the one you would get in a Starbucks'. The second thing you need to decide is what kind of Kopi you would like to have - Kopi, Kopi-O, Kopi-Si or Kopi-Kosong....

In order to explain this to us, our colleague LamMeng, had to actually hold a marker and draw a chart on the white board and he started by asking the following questions:

1. Do you want milk in your Kopi?

2. If so, would you want condensed milk or evaporated milk?

3. Would you want sugar in your Kopi?

4. If yes, how much sugar?

5. Do you want your Kopi hot or cold?

Based on your answers to the above questions, you get a chart like the one shown below:

What I really loved was that when you ask for a take-away, they actually give you a paper cup, with a little plastic tied around it like a handle, which ensures that you don't burn your fingers holding it, as you take it around from the shop to your cubicle.

I tasted a few varieties and liked the Kopi or the Kopi-Si, but you can actually go for Kopi Kosong, if you do not want either milk or sugar in your Kopi. (Kosong, I was told means 'empty' in Malay).

So, the next time you come to Singapore (or Singapura as the locals like to call it) ask for a place where you treat yourself to Kopi. What's more - it's probably 1/5th the price you would pay for a Starbucks'.

However, if coffee does not suit your palette and you prefer to have tea....well, don't be surprised when you will realize that 'Tea' is only an English alphabet in these shops!!