Cafes glossary
Short, plain-English definitions of the terms you'll meet when choosing a cafe provider in Puchong.
- What are coffee roast levels?
- Coffee roast levels describe the degree to which green beans are heated during roasting, ranging from light to dark, each producing distinct flavor profiles and acidity levels.
- What are half boiled eggs?
- Half boiled eggs are soft-cooked eggs boiled for a few minutes until the whites set while the yolk remains runny, traditionally served with soy sauce, pepper, and toast or bread in Southeast Asian kopitiam cafes.
- What is a barista?
- A barista is a trained coffee technician who operates espresso machines and prepares specialty coffee drinks, with expertise in pulling shots, steaming milk, and creating latte art.
- What is a coffee blend?
- A coffee blend is a mix of beans sourced from different geographic origins or roasted to different levels, combined to produce a consistent and balanced flavour profile.
- What is a cortado?
- A cortado is equal parts espresso and warm steamed milk, creating a drink stronger than a flat white but milder than a macchiato.
- What is a flat white?
- A flat white is an espresso-based coffee drink made with a double shot of espresso topped with microfoam steamed milk in a tighter ratio than a cappuccino or latte.
- What is a kopitiam?
- A kopitiam is a traditional Malaysian coffee shop that serves strong black coffee (kopi), light refreshments, and simple meals in a casual, communal environment.
- What is a Muji style cafe?
- A Muji style cafe is a cafe featuring minimalist interior design inspired by Japanese retail aesthetics, characterized by neutral color palettes, clean lines, and uncluttered spaces.
- What is a ristretto?
- A ristretto is a short, concentrated espresso shot made by pulling the same amount of grounds as a standard shot but stopping the extraction early, resulting in less liquid and a more intense flavor.
- What is all day breakfast?
- All day breakfast is a menu service where breakfast dishes remain available beyond traditional morning hours, often until closing time.
- What is Arabica vs robusta?
- Arabica and robusta are the two dominant coffee plant species, distinguished by flavour profile, caffeine content, and growing conditions. Arabica is prized for complexity and smoothness; robusta is valued for strength and intensity.
- What is batik cafe decor?
- Batik cafe decor is an interior design style that incorporates traditional Malaysian batik patterns, motifs, and fabrics into cafe spaces for visual interest and cultural authenticity.
- What is coffee cupping?
- Coffee cupping is a standardized sensory evaluation method where trained tasters sample and assess coffee quality, flavour characteristics, and consistency by slurping brewed samples to identify taste notes and defects.
- What is cold brew coffee?
- Cold brew coffee is a beverage made by steeping coarse ground coffee in cold water for 12 to 24 hours, then filtering to produce a smooth, less acidic concentrate that is diluted with water or milk before serving.
- What is espresso?
- A concentrated coffee beverage produced by forcing hot water through finely ground coffee under pressure, typically served as a single or double shot and used as the base for most milk drinks like cappuccino and flat white.
- What is kaya toast?
- Kaya toast is a slice of bread toasted and topped with kaya (coconut jam) and butter, a popular breakfast item across Southeast Asian cafes.
- What is kopi tarik?
- Kopi tarik is a traditional Malaysian coffee preparation method where strong brewed coffee and condensed milk are poured repeatedly between two cups or pitchers to aerate, cool, and create a frothy layer on top.
- What is latte art?
- Latte art is the craft of pouring steamed milk into espresso in a controlled manner to form decorative designs visible on the drink's surface.
- What is Nanyang coffee?
- Nanyang coffee is a Southeast Asian coffee preparation where beans are roasted with sugar and margarine, then brewed and served with sweetened condensed milk.
- What is nitro cold brew?
- Nitro cold brew is cold brew coffee infused with nitrogen gas, which creates a creamy mouthfeel and distinctive cascading foam head similar to draft beer.
- What is pour over coffee?
- Pour over coffee is a manual brewing technique where hot water is poured slowly through ground coffee in a dripper lined with a filter, allowing gravity to extract the coffee into a cup below.
- What is single origin coffee?
- Coffee sourced from a single farm, region, or country rather than a blend of beans from multiple origins, allowing specific terroir and processing to shape the flavor profile.
- What is specialty grade coffee?
- Specialty grade coffee is defined by the Specialty Coffee Association's cupping score threshold of 80 points or above, indicating superior bean quality, distinct flavor characteristics, and traceable origin compared to commercial-grade coffee.
- What is third wave coffee?
- Third wave coffee is a movement that approaches coffee production and preparation as a craft, prioritizing direct relationships with growers, single-origin beans, small-batch roasting, and precise brewing techniques over mass-market convenience.