Today, I would like to share with you about the unique Nanyang Coffee (also commonly known as Kopi), of which this particular area is especially dear to my heart.
I am familiar with Nanyang Coffee, since my father was a kopi barista with his very own kopi stall. I dare not say that my familiarity with Kopi is very in-depth, but I do definitely am bold enough to say that this connection is a rooted fondness to my heart – as per what I remembered when I was young, seeing my dad making and brewing kopi with his ever so dexterous hands.
My father painstakingly brought up his four children together with my mother by selling heart-warming Nanyang Coffee to his customers, of whom he treated with so much kindness, warmth and respect. So one could imagine the coffee he made was coupled with all these qualities inside each and every cup.
None of my siblings nor I inherit the said skills from my father – I guess that we think it not necessary since we do not have any intention of carrying on this business. Still I regret not learning this Kopi making skills from my dad. Hence after my dad passed away in 2016, the only heir to this artistry and knowledge was my mum.
Unquestionably, the expertise gained from my dad is priceless. Although the taste of the coffee extracted by my mum is definitely different from my dad, still it is a legacy of my dad that could be continued.
Many people may think that brewing kopi is just “simply” pouring hot blended coffee mixture into a fabric filter, transfer to a cup and serve. But genuinely and intrinsically, it is not. How much water is mixed with the coffee powder, the speed of pouring, how high a kettle is held when pouring hot coffee mixture into the sock filter, what is the mind-set and attitude when making that kopi a customer is waiting for – this is what Kopi brewing is about – all of the above.
Hence, BrewRatio and I personally are grateful to all the local kopi baristas who make this aromatic kopi with a great heart. And we look forward to see our customers appreciating this effort, and the essence of this unique Nanyang Coffee itself, of which I believe is dear to all.
