Ipoh White Coffee: Authentic Malaysian Recipe, Margarine-Roasted Beans & Brewing Guide

Ipoh white coffee is a Malaysian coffee specialty from the city of Ipoh in Perak, made by roasting coffee beans (typically Liberica, Robusta, and Arabica blends) with palm-oil margarine — and only margarine, with no sugar and no wheat — then brewing the resulting roast strong and serving it with sweetened condensed milk. The “white” in the name refers to the lighter, paler roast color produced by the margarine roast — not to the color of the finished drink, which is actually a creamy caramel-tan once the condensed milk goes in. It is the single most famous Malaysian coffee export and the signature drink of Ipoh’s old kopitiam (coffee shop) culture. ...

May 1, 2026 · 16 min · Barista At Home