What Is Malaysian White Coffee from Ipoh’s OldTown?

If you’ve ever wandered the colonial-era streets of Ipoh, Malaysia, you may have wondered: what exactly is this pale, creamy coffee everyone’s sipping in the old shophouses? It’s not just any cuppa — it’s Ipoh’s signature white coffee, a drink tied to the city’s Chinese-Malay heritage and one of Malaysia’s most beloved café exports. But is it really just coffee with milk, or is there more to the story?

Ipoh’s OldTown White Coffee is made with a blend of Liberica, Arabica, and Robusta beans, roasted with butter and without sugar, then brewed with non-dairy creamer instead of milk. The result is a lighter-coloured, smoother, less acidic brew with a mild nutty taste — and it’s been a local staple for nearly 50 years.

What Makes White Coffee ‘White’?

Despite the name, white coffee isn’t white — it’s a pale, creamy gold colour. The ‘white’ refers to how the coffee is processed, not its colour. Unlike traditional black coffee, which is brewed with hot water alone or with milk, Malaysian white coffee is brewed with non-dairy creamer and uses a special roasting method that reduces bitterness. The beans are roasted with butter and without sugar, and then the resulting brew has most of the caffeine and acidity removed through high-heat roasting and a unique extraction process. That’s what gives it a mellower, less bitter profile compared to standard coffee.

The History Behind Ipoh’s OldStreet White Coffee

Ipoh, a bustling city in Malaysia’s Perak state, is known for its rich architectural heritage and vibrant Chinese-Malay food culture. Among its many historic shophouses and colonial buildings are countless old-school coffee shops — the kind where you can sip a cup of white coffee while soaking in decades of local history. The drink itself originated in the Malay Peninsula and became especially popular in Ipoh. OldTown, a well-known local brand, commercialised the style and helped make it famous across Malaysia and beyond. In 2024, Lithuanian artist Ernest Zacharevic created a series of murals in Ipoh’s OldTown district, including two coffee-themed pieces: Old Uncle with Coffee Cup and Five Packets of Kopi-O, celebrating the city’s coffee culture and daily life.

These large-scale artworks were commissioned as part of a local government initiative to promote Ipoh’s cultural identity. Other murals by Zacharevic in the area include Paper Plane, Girl with Birdcage, Trishaw, Hummingbird, and the dramatic, site-specific Evolution, which depicts the region’s mining history across an entire building facade. These murals, completed in June 2024, add a vivid, contemporary layer to Ipoh’s already atmospheric old town.

How OldTown White Coffee Is Made

OldTown’s signature white coffee is based on a specific blend and preparation method that sets it apart:

• Bean blend: A mix of Liberica, Arabica, and Robusta beans
• Roasting: High-temperature roasting with butter, no sugar added
• Brewing: Prepared with non-dairy creamer instead of regular milk
• Flavour profile: Low acidity, minimal bitterness, mild nutty and toasty notes
• Colour: Light, creamy golden hue (not truly white)

The roasting process reduces the coffee’s caffeine and harsh compounds, and the use of non-dairy creamer gives the coffee a smoother mouthfeel. Unlike traditional espresso-based drinks or filtered black coffee, this method results in a cup that’s easy on the stomach and less intense in flavour — ideal for casual drinking.

What to Expect When You Try It

When you order a cup of white coffee in Ipoh, expect a beverage that’s mellow, slightly sweet (from the creamer), and easy to drink. It’s often served alongside traditional Malaysian snacks or meals. The coffee’s colour ranges from light beige to pale gold — definitely not white, but noticeably lighter than a typical black coffee. The taste is smooth, with low acidity and subtle nutty undertones. It’s not bold or fruity like some single-origin pour-overs, but it’s comforting, familiar, and distinctly Malaysian.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between white coffee and regular coffee?

White coffee is made with a blend of Liberica, Arabica, and Robusta beans roasted with butter and brewed with non-dairy creamer, resulting in a smoother, less acidic, and lighter-coloured drink. Regular coffee is typically brewed with just water and often includes milk or black, resulting in a stronger, more bitter flavour profile with higher caffeine and acidity levels.

Where did Malaysian white coffee originate?

Malaysian white coffee originated in Ipoh, a city in the Malaysian state of Perak, and became popular through local kopitiams (traditional coffee shops). The style was later commercialised by the OldTown brand, which helped spread it across Malaysia.

Why is it called white coffee if it’s not white?

The term 'white coffee' refers to the unique roasting and brewing method that reduces bitterness and acidity, not the actual colour of the coffee, which is a light creamy gold rather than truly white.

What beans are used in OldTown White Coffee?

OldTown White Coffee uses a blend of three bean types: Liberica, Arabica, and Robusta. These are roasted with butter and without sugar, then brewed with non-dairy creamer to create its signature mild and smooth taste.

Is white coffee less bitter than regular coffee?

Yes, white coffee is significantly less bitter than regular coffee due to its special roasting process (without sugar) and the use of non-dairy creamer, which creates a smoother and more mellow flavour.

Are there cafes in Ipoh that serve authentic white coffee?

Yes, Ipoh is full of traditional coffee shops and modern cafes that serve authentic white coffee, particularly in the city’s historic OldTown district, where the drink originated.

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