mei mei’s butter coffee

But first…coffee. As one of the most popular and widely consumed drinks, coffee has cultural importance in many regions of the world. What does coffee mean in Singapore? 

One of the most popular variations of coffee in Singapore is kopi go you, or Singaporean butter coffee. This is a traditional beverage usually made using a strong Nanyang coffee with a slice of butter. Typically, the butter is added as a final step, after the coffee has been prepared using condensed milk. 

Since the drink mixes water and oil, the butter is stirred or blended into the coffee without the oily fats from the butter separating. This creates a thick, foamy concoction similar to a latte. The drink is high in calories and fat but low in carbohydrates, and it’s usually enjoyed alongside a traditional breakfast. 

A traditional Singaporean breakfast of kaya toast, boiled eggs and butter coffee.

Kopi go you has a creamy texture and a caramelized flavor that pairs well with the bitterness of the nanyang coffee. Singaporean butter coffee is widely believed to have been popularized in Hainanese coffee shops in the 1930s, yet the concept of adding fat to coffee is hundreds of years old. Variations of Singapore’s butter coffee are consumed in countries such as India, China and Vietnam. 

Today, kopi go you is a staple in hawker stalls and kopitiams, or coffee shops, across Singapore, and it’s an accessible and affordable beverage enjoyed by people from all walks of life. It’s a common drink found at social gatherings, or enjoyed with kaya toast and eggs for a hearty breakfast. 

Along with other coffee variations, butter coffee is part of Singapore’s unique cultural identity and culinary heritage. At Mei Mei, kopi go you is an all-time favorite that’s best enjoyed hot. Stop by Borough Market to experience the flavours and aromas of an authentic Singaporean kopitiam.