ROTI by Golden Bowl – Should You Put Salt in Your Coffee? 

I have drunk a morning coffee of Kopi O for years and never thought anyone would put hot water AND salt in your coffee – except for a prank!

And to coffee drinkers – a decidedly bad cup of brew.

I cut my sugar intake to have desserts and cakes.

It’s a fair trade for a few bitter caffeine brews.

Many people like adding a little sugar or milk to their coffee.

In Malaysia, we like evaporated milk or condensed milk.

How many types of coffee are in Malaysia?

Kopi O – Coffee with sugar only, “black coffee” in layman’s terms.

Kopi O Kosong – Coffee without sugar or milk.

Kopi O Kosong Kaw – Strong brewed Coffee without sugar or milk.

Kopi – Coffee with condensed milk.

Kopi Kaw – Strong brewed Coffee with condensed milk. “Kaw” means “rich” in Hokkien.

Kopi Poh – Weak brewed Coffee with condensed milk. The “Poh” means “diluted” in Hokkien.

Kopi C – Coffee with evaporated milk and sugar.

Kopi C -Kosong – Coffee with evaporated milk but no sugar. The “-Kosong” means “nothing” in Malay.

Kopi Peng – Coffee with milk, sugar, and ice.

What is ROTI by Golden Bowl  Kiam Kopi?

Kiam Kopi – Coffee with milk, sugar, and SALT!

Salted Coffee is trending.

As it turns out, Coffee with Salted Caramel is not Kiam Kopi.

I’ve tried this version and love the creamy, salty caramel taste.

I’ve heard of tea plantation workers putting a tiny bit of salt for boiled black tea – a habit that they continue to this day, drinking copious cups of salted tea.

Should You Put Salt in Your Coffee?

So, does salted coffee have any benefits?

How much SALT should you add – a quarter teaspoon or more?

I did some reading up on why you should put salt in your morning cup of coffee.

According to famous cookbook author and food science expert Alton Brown, for every cup of water you use to make coffee, you should mix two spoons of ground coffee with half a spoon of kosher salt.

Apparently, by doing so, not only does salt cut the bitterness, it smooths out the “stale” taste of tank-stored water.

Research has proven that salt is better at neutralizing bitterness than sugar.

In 2009, the mainstream media picked this up, calling it the “Alton Brown coffee trick.”

As a result, putting salt in coffee has sparked the curiosity of coffee lovers around the world.

So, that got me thinking, where else would you find other instances of Salted Coffee.

Brides use Salt in Your Coffee In Turkey.

Here is an interesting anecdote –

In Turkish tradition, a way of determining the future groom’s manhood is to put salt in his coffee.

The amount of salt the potential bride uses signals her feelings for her future husband.

If the potential candidate drinks the whole cup of salty coffee, he proves his manhood and willingness to marry the girl.

The Benefits Of Putting Salt in Your Coffee

While many cultures are salting their coffee to improve your drinking experience.

You can try the coffee-making tradition of Hungary, Scandinavian countries, Siberia, and Turkey when you can travel abroad.

Come to think of it, I have tried the salted black Coffee in Turkey and forgot all about it.

I love Turkish tea sold at the local weekly markets, and it has a fruity taste that appeals to two tourists rather than the local Turks.

I have not gotten used to the taste of the coffee.

While the flavor is bold, Turkish coffee has a robust bittersweet flavor and needs a lot of sugar to make it palatable for me.

Traditionally it is served with the uber-sweet toe-curling Turkish Delight!

I end up with a charming syrupy coffee mixture full of gritty, powdery taste.

Adding salt may improve the bitter flavor but doesn’t enhance my taste buds.

There are stories about soldiers adding salt to their coffee to make low-quality, bitter coffee better.

The Health Benefits Of Putting Salt in Your Coffee

While it is a scientific fact that sodium (found in salt) is more efficient in covering up the bitterness by sodium, which works better than sugar.

If you use high-quality coffee, the taste is very different and smooth, rounded with a signature golden layer of crema.

Reduces Bitterness

Sugar can only mask the bitter taste slightly, whereas salt neutralizes the bitterness in coffee completely.

It is a simple and effective way to reduce bitter coffee fast.

It heightens the taste of coffee and makes the drink smoother.

Improves Stale Water

Using fresh spring water improves the taste of the coffee.

Brewing coffee with stale water for water storage tanks

turns coffee bitter.

The bitterness in coffee made with stale water will reduce the quality and taste.

By adding salt, you can improve water quality and make the water denser, giving your coffee a thicker texture.

Salt will make the water taste better.

Why You Should Be Adding Salt to Your Coffee

I drink coffee every day, and I love it as a morning pick-me-up and as a teatime treat.

Coffee is so versatile.

I drink it black, with a dash of whole milk, but never with non-dairy creamer.

Sometimes I add sugar; most of the time, I don’t.

Though I don’t experiment much with my daily cuppa at home, I drink instant coffee black.

My younger friend often offers suggestions to keep me abreast with the latest trends in coffee drinking.

Kiam Kopi – Add Salt to My Coffee?

Yes, you heard right, Dory!

Why would I do that to my precious cup of Coffee, Penelope?

It makes it smoother and tastier and rounds off the flavor of the coffee.

Penelope told me she tried it before bringing me to ROTI.

“It’s backed by science.”

When Penelope (the person and scientist, too) talks, I tend to agree and listen with a pinch of salt.

Over brewing coffee, make it bitter, PP.

No one used the 90s coffee electric percolator anymore.

Penelope’s Favorite Kiam Kopi At ROTI by Golden Bowl

We headed to ROTI by Golden Bowl, a small eatery near Pasar Batu Lanchang, which serves a Western breakfast, noodle dishes, and drinks.

We wanted to try the one drink, the Kiam Kopi, recommended by PP.

It’s probably coffee powder and not beans, as in Coffee Bean.

I wanted to see how much salt they put in the coffee, or if you can add it yourself.

The breakfast joint is located in a Kopitiam in Kampung Batu Lanchang opposite the Central Park Condominium.

However, Google Maps took us on a roundabout way to reach the place.

For a breakfast place under the tree, this eatery has an uncomplicated menu – a few.

• Instant Noodle dishes
• Roti Toasts and Half Boiled/Soft Boiled Egg combination
• Pocket Toasts
• Breakfast Platter
• French Toast
• Sandwiches
• Coffee
• Ice Blended Drinks

Ten instant noodle dishes with Add-on sides were available at ROTI by Golden Bowl.

If you want Maggie Noodles, that’s an extra RM1 for the Add-In.

PP and I are not huge fans of instant noodles.

The last time I ordered HK-style Instant Noodles with Ham and Egg, she looked and balked.

We won’t order something with basic tastes that we can rustle up at home.

Besides, I just wanted to drink salted coffee.

Our orders at ROTI by Golden Bowl

Since we were at a new Kopitiam, I thought it would be nice to try one of ROTI’s specialties.

The add-ons looked tempting to me.

I wanted to try the Cheesy Wedges and Fried Luncheon Meat.

Well, the Spam Fries @ Naughty Nuri’s are called Asian Luncheon Fries, to be precise.

Bak Kua Toast RM8.90

Don’t expect the Bee Cheng Hiang type of premium pork slice Bakkwa, but the offering is decent.

The sweet  Bak Kua is wrapped in a fried egg with two slices of thick toasted bread.

Instead, we ordered copious cups of coffee – our main intent was to come here.

Kiam Kopi Hot (Salted Coffee) RM1.90

I ordered the hot cuppa and lived to regret it.

After our meal at noon, I went home and was still thirty until past 9 PM.

Kiam Kopi Iced (Salted Coffee) RM2.30

PP loved this and had two big glasses. Sipped through the foamy layer, the ice dilutes the coffee’s saltiness.

It’s too bad I ordered the  Kiam Kopi Hot and had a complete blast, which felt like a teaspoon of salt in my coffee!

I’m hoping it’s healthy sea salt and not table salt!

You can try the Salted Cream Cheese Black Tea for tea lovers for RM5.90.

Would I try it?

Probably not, since the drinks were tasty.

However, it was just too salty.

My senior friends have remarked that the extra sodium intake will cause their blood pressure to shoot up!

Still, I believe there is no bad coffee, and every brew depends on the barista’s taste adjustment.

If you are wondering, there is no Salted Cold Brew available here.

Hor Ka Sai RM2.30

The first time I had this drink was in Taiping.

Hor Ka Sai is not only a perplexing name for a beverage.

A Hokkien phrase loosely translates it as “Hor Ka Sai,” which means Tiger Bite Lion.

This Malaysian Cham (Mixed) drink has an exciting Kopi O and Milo mocha.

Review of ROTI by Golden Bowl

The café-style food at ROTI by Golden Bowl is affordable compared to pricier café outlets’ food.

You may like the taste of Kiam Kopi like PP.

I must say it has a certain appeal.

After my experience, I might not be tempted to try another cuppa.

Aunty and Uncles, if you want to try – be careful of the sodium levels no matter how tempted you are to try a lively coffee.

I’m an Aunty reviewer.

The coffee taste is not too acidic and doesn’t cause acid reflux.

Do take this review with a big pinch of salt.

Let me know what you think of the Salted Coffee if you’ve tried or will try.

ROTI by Golden Bowl (Non-Halal)
Address: 9, Medan Penaga, Kampung Batu Lanchang, 11600 Jelutong, Penang.
Contact: 012-458 4854
Hours: 7.30 AM to 2.30 PM. Closed on Tuesdays.

Website: Roti by Golden Bowl
Coordinates: 5.38941 N, 100.30770 E
Directions: ROTI by Golden Bowl is located at Lebuhraya Jelutong and Medan Penaga.

Parking: Street parking is challenging. There are two places you can park.

• By the road (not a proper car park) in front of Central Park
• MBPP car park at Pasar Batu Lanchang and walk.

 

Blog Disclosure: This is a NOT sponsored blog post. All opinions are mine. The writer and friends paid for their meal.