From Kopi-O to Espresso: Easy Crossing of Boundaries in Coffee Houses
By Beh May Ting
October 2022 FEATURE
ARTISANAL CAFÉS ARE now as ubiquitous as kopitiams in Penang.In the early 2010s, new Melbourne-inspired independently owned cafés serving coffee along with Western-style meals and desserts emerged in Malaysia. These flourished despite the presence of Malaysian traditional coffee shops (kopitiams) and international coffee chains like Starbucks. One only needs to walk down Beach Street to realise that we live, work and play in a city where food is diverse. The average Penangite is likely as comfortable eating in a hot,...
Beh May Ting
is an urban anthropologist and a senior analyst in Penang Institute. She draws professional and personal inspirations from the finer things in life.
