[Written in partnership with Koppiku, but the editorial team had full control over the content.]
If you’re a caffeine-enthusiast, you’ve probably heard of Koppiku, or at least seen its pastel green kiosks around the Klang Valley.
Sporting an airstream-inspired design, the startup has been making a name for itself as a go-to spot for quality, on-the-move refreshments. And just as its name suggests, Koppiku’s core offering is coffee-based drinks.
More recently, though, customers have been returning for a different kind of beverage—Matcha Latte. It has quickly risen to become one of the brand’s bestsellers in Koppiku’s 14 months of operating.
To ride the wave of demand they identified, they just released a limited-time matcha series featuring specially crafted beverages.
Keeping quality drinks accessible & affordable
In celebration of Koppiku’s first special drinks series, we were invited to an intimate “Matcha Dreams Picnic” at its first train station kiosk, Raja Chulan Monorail.
It’s a short walk away from offices around the area and seems like a convenient spot to get your caffeine dose. Sure enough, I saw a decent morning crowd queuing up for their drinks.
From this, I could see how Koppiku tries to achieve its mission of being accessible to the public, both in terms of location and cost.
You see, a highlight of the brand is that all its drinks are priced between RM5.00 to RM10.90. “I think that sets us apart,” Dr Rajiv Bhanot, Koppiku’s CEO and founder, candidly shared.
“Specialty barista-pulled coffee was always a luxury. I ingat masa zaman kecil growing up in Subang, I would pass by all these top coffee brands and say, ‘Wow, it’s aspirational but I can’t afford it.’” This is a large factor that inspired the team to start Koppiku.
Shortly after its matcha latte rose in popularity, the brand decided to be a drink innovation company. “We want to start introducing new drinks based on what our consumers and customers like.”
That’s how this limited-time matcha series came about with its three new beverages—Mango Coconut Matcha Latte, Dirty Matcha, and Ginger Calamansi Matcha.
This is what matcha dreams are made of
The drinks certainly sound creative, but how do they taste, exactly?
I’m a big fan of calamansi (limau kasturi in Malay) and also adore matcha, but combining them together seemed like a stretch. Adding ginger into the mix makes it sound like the oddest one out of the three. It shouldn’t work because you’re combining tastes of sour, bitter, and spice.
Yet, it was the most refreshing and interesting drink, at least in my opinion. The tonic water gave it a kick that makes Koppiku’s Ginger Calamansi Matcha (RM9.90 for regular, RM11.90 for large) a good pick-me-up drink for when you’re sick of lattes.
Sweet-tooths would probably enjoy Koppiku’s Mango Coconut Matcha Latte (RM9.90 for regular, RM11.90 for large). Or as I like to call it, mango sticky rice pudding in a cup because that’s exactly what it tastes like.
In lieu of regular milk, this latte uses coconut milk to give it a tropical taste. This paired with mango fruit mix and the mildly bitter matcha powder balances out the creaminess of the coconut milk.
Those who still want their coffee fix should try Koppiku’s Dirty Matcha Latte (RM8.50 for regular, RM10.50 for large). I’ll admit that I’m not the biggest coffee lover, but I can acknowledge how the flavours went well together and the double espresso shot helped keep me productive all day long.
The last drink in the series is Koppiku’s best-selling Matcha Latte, which is priced at RM7.50 for regular and RM9.50 for large cups.
Quality drinks for all Malaysians, everywhere
Only slightly over a year old, Koppiku has been steadily establishing its presence in Malaysia and has over 40 outlets now, and they’re not done growing yet.
“If we go by the flow of where we are, we will end the year with 53 Koppiku locations,” Dr Rajiv stated. He happily shared that they’re finally expanding outside of the Klang Valley, with three new outlets to open in Pahang this November.
Dr Rajiv explained that the goal is to bring Koppiku all over the country. Aside from train stations, customers can also find the brand in malls, some BHP petrol stations, and even a couple of universities.
“Specialty coffee should be accessible. Tak kisah if you’re a CEO of an organisation, a university student, a person heading to the office in the morning, [or] a housewife that’s just got done with chores. We want to be affordable and accessible to everyone” he elaborated.
Koppiku’s limited-time matcha series is currently available from now until November 24, 2024, so we recommend grabbing a cup before they disappear.
Featured Image Credit: Koppiku / Vulcan Post
