Rail Coffee, real coffee
Throughout my life, I have only seen two Chinese-run coffeeshops thronged by so many Malays. One is Hai Ping Kedai Kopi at Chukai, Kemaman, the other is at the old canteen in Kluang railway station. Both serve excellent home-roasted coffee, charcoal-toasted buns with kaya-and-margerine, and the just-about-right half-boiled eggs.
My Malay brethren seem to patronise these two places tanpa was-was, for they easily out-number the Chinese locals. And I will definitely not trade these two coffeeshops for any of the the imported designer coffee. No dice.
Over the weekend, I made it a point to revisit the Kluang railway canteen again, after nine long years.
The Kluang railway station still retains its rustic appeal I last experienced in 1997. Perhaps, few train-stops then before as people now have newer means to commute.
Whatever that's said and done, Kluang is where the coffee aroma brews nearer than southern Terengganu, which is calling for my name again (Hearth thee, hearth thee...).
But the Kluang Rail coffee has since upgraded. There is a unique body language among the shop-assistants who don the signature maroon T-shirt, a gesture that spells dignity and pride.
The cashier looks into a LCD-monitor to manage the PoS (point-of-sale) entries and collect cash, and the PoS software is a Windows version, not DOS.
Despite the modernity, I am very glad that the able hands that tend to my half-boiled eggs are still as on-the-dot as before.
To those from the Klang Valley, the good news is Kluang Rail Coffee is now available at 1-Utama and Ikano Power Centre, run the Kluangman's nephew. Go get your fix.
All LensaPress pictures by Jeff Ooi.
Comments
i've not been to kluang for ages & i have yet to savour the famous kluang station coffee & kaya bread but "kluang station" recently opened at tesco, melaka. i wonder if it is a legitimate branch or just a copy-cat riding on the coat-tail of the original.
Posted by: doc![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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August 21, 2006 12:29 AM
there is a kluang station in the tesco next to curve in damansara as well.
Posted by: hinzelmann![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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August 21, 2006 01:19 AM
Wow Jeff! Nice photo and shooting session you got there...
Posted by: geovanni![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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August 21, 2006 03:13 AM
What a co-incidence! Check out this:
http://www.thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2006/8/21/nation/15198967&sec=nation
Did you meet up with SIL, Jeff?
Posted by: howsy![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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August 21, 2006 08:00 AM
Jeff
Coffee-shop #3 - check out Central - 30m down the street of the Klang Railway Station.
Coincidental - another shop near a railway station? hmmm
cheers
JEFF OOI says: Yes, I visited the Klang old town coffee shop and makan there as well. They use charcoal to toast the bread!
Posted by: pengembara![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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August 21, 2006 09:41 AM
Hi Jeff,
I'm a big fan of your webpage but never sign in....just an observer but since you drop by the town I grew up in...I just had to sign in and post.
Kluang coffee had been the best coffee shop since day 1 (before I was born of course) with its butter kaya bun, half boiled eggs & of course...coffee. It manages to influence the Kluang people to have the habit of 'lim teh or coffee'. Now...coffee shops in Kluang are everywhere & at 3pm...its full. The location of Kluang coffee is very much the same with some 'upgrades' but since they have gone commercialised with branches in KL n Ipoh....the quality has somewhat degraded.
Anyway..I do patronise Kluang Coffee or as we locals calls it 'Huey Char Thau kopi' once in a while.
Posted by: Bat-man![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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August 21, 2006 10:19 AM
Its been a long time coming. How on earth did starbucks and others manage to out manouvre the kopitiams in the home market. It is good to see the kopitiams fighting back and are spouting in Malls as they serve good coffee and snacks at a fraction of what is served in starbucks.
Posted by: sydput![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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August 21, 2006 11:22 AM
...2 more coffeeshops to add to your list...
Yat Sun in Taiping
and Yatt Loy in Kuala Kangsar...this place has been making pau's for the Perak Royal family since God knows when.
Posted by: aput83![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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August 21, 2006 11:34 AM
Ditto Bat-man!
great pics, Jeff. reading this makes me wanna go to Kluang myself and drink the coffee at the cafe there!
Kudos to Jeff!! keep 'em coming
hakim
Posted by: hakimamir![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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August 21, 2006 11:42 AM
Hmmm...a nostalgic reminiscent of the good ole days being punctured by the reality of modern commerce...everything must be franchised for all to enjoy. Kluang Rail Coffee at 1-Utama and Ikano...
Posted by: twotablet![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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August 21, 2006 12:54 PM
I am a coffee lover in Penang. Can any one tell me when is Kluang Coffee coming to Penang?
Posted by: chaiong![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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August 21, 2006 11:07 PM
Nice pictures Mr.Ooi.. It's good to smell the coffee brewed in the morning.A fresh wake up aroma to go to shcool one time ago.such a satisfaction to have the special butter kaya toast with coffee.
Yut Loy's pau the best!
Posted by: carlffler![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.jeffooi.com/nav-commenters.gif)
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October 1, 2006 09:10 AM