Antong Coffee Factory, Malaysia’s oldest coffee mill

Antong describes itself as Malaysia’s oldest coffee mill, having been established in 1933 by a Mr Tiah Ee Mooi.

If you find yourself walking near the Taiping railway station, you might catch a whiff of the powerful and delicious aroma of roasting coffee beans.

When that happens, allow your nose to lead the way, and head over a bridge above the railway lines and spot a sign that says “Kilang Kopi Antong” (Antong Coffee Factory).

Antong Cafe – The entrance to Malaysia’s oldest coffee mill. (Thrifty Traveller pic)

Given its off-the-beaten-track location, you may think this place would seldom get visitors, but you couldn’t be more wrong.

It seems to be quite a tourist trap and there were, at the time (pre-Covid), three coach loads of school children being given a tour of the factory and demonstration of the manufacturing process.

Antong describes itself as Malaysia’s oldest coffee mill, having been established in 1933 by Mr Tiah Ee Mooi. Tiah’s old house stands alongside the factory and a bronze statue of him stands next to the front door.

Tiah Ee Mooi’s house – Antong Coffee

It is also said that Dr Sun Yat Sen, the founder of modern China, stayed in this house when he visited Taiping.

The factory building itself used to be the stables for this house.

Antong Coffee Factory sources its coffee beans from both Malaysia and abroad. They are roasted in ovens fuelled by recycled wood and mangrove logs.

Molten sugar is mixed into the pot together with the coffee beans (a bummer if you don’t like sugar) and apparently, other secret ingredients are added to give the coffee mix its distinctive flavour.

Originally, their main product was Kopi O powder (pre-sweetened black coffee) but to keep up with the times, they have broadened their product range to include 3-in-1 white coffee with added creamer (which is very popular in Malaysia) and other instant type coffee mixes.

They even sell durian-flavoured white coffee. How Malaysian is that!

Antong Coffee Factory
Assam Kumbang
34000 Taiping, Perak
Contact: 05-8075189
Opening Hours: Shop/Office: 8.30am to 5.30pm daily (shop and office), 8.30am to 12.30pm (factory)

This article first appeared on Thrifty Traveller – 23 Mar 2021 (freemalaysiatoday)