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PETALING JAYA (ANN/THE STAR) – A beautifully restored colonial building on Ipoh’s Jalan Panglima is now open for visitors and coffenthusiasts. The three-storey building features a heritage gallery that tells the story of the “kopitiam” chain, OldTown White Coffee, and Perak’s coffee history. “It’s our mission to celebrate our roots as Ipoh is the birthplace of white coffee.

The OldTown Heritage Centre aims to preserve this important piece of history,” said Dawn Liew, Kopitiam Asia Pacific Sdn Bhd chief executive officer. The OldTown Heritage Gallery is a “living” gallery, showcasing a collection of coffee-themed artworks by local artists dedicated to preserving Ipoh’s coffee heritage. Upon entering the ground floor cafe, visitors will be greeted by uniquely designed traditional Chinese lanterns hanging from the ceiling.



These lanterns, crafted from bamboo frames and white rice paper, are the creations of Chuen Mun Wai, one of Malaysia’s last traditional Chinese lantern makers. On the same floor, the local “Kopi Lineage”, aka Kopi “family tree” installation, curated by heritage trades researcher and photographer Jeffrey Lim, offers fascinating and informative reading. It also features a series of photographs showcasing various types of coffee, including Kopi O, Kopi C, and White Coffee.

If you’re unfamiliar with these classic beverages, the photo installation provides an insightful introduction. Lim also sourced a vintage coffee-making stove, .

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