#ThirstyThursdays: OWL Kopi O Kosong: As Dark As My Future

Last Updated on 2019-12-11 , 2:46 pm

The future is dark…

Very dark…

I am terror…

And I am the night…

Reader: I know what and who you are. Holy shit! You- You’re…

Actually no.

I’m just something humble called Kopi O Kosong.

(Even though I do want to be Batman.)

That’s right. This is OWL’s new Kopi O Kosong, said to be “as dark as night” (I swear this was actually in their press release).

Even though they sent a press release, we’re rebels here and used it for #ThirstyThursdays reviews instead. #Killing2birdswith1stone

The Product

Kopi O Kosong, as most of you should know, is local coffee that’s typically roasted to dark levels, typically with sugar, butter and or oil.

After the roasting, brewing it with hot water is Kopi O Kosong. Which we can then use as a base to make other kinds of Kopi with milk or whatever.

Here’s a little good news for y’all: the usual selling price is $5.20 for a pack of 20 bags. But as a new product, the price from now to 31 Dec 2019 is $4.20.

(That’s a blaze-it price.)

You’ll even get a pack of Julie’s Biscuit Butter Crackers (200g) if you buy it at selected sampling locations:

• Prime Jurong West 763 (9am to 5pm)
• Prime Bukit Batok 373 (10am to 6pm)
• Prime Compassvale 263 (10am to 6pm)
• Prime Joo Seng (9am to 5pm)
• Prime Yishun 461 (9am to 5pm)
• Prime Chua Chu Kang 253 (9am to 5pm)
• Sheng Siong Chin Swee (10am to 6pm)
• Sheng Siong Tanglin 88 (9am to 5pm)
• Sheng Siong Bedok 539 (10am to 6pm)
• Sheng Siong Serangoon North 19 (10am to 6pm)
• Teo Chuan Kee (9am to 5pm)
• Good Luck Jurong 503 (9am to 5pm)
• First Emporium Chinatown (11am to 7pm)
• Toh Eng Li Yishun (9am to 5pm)
• J Mart Ang Mo Kio 632 (9am to 5pm)

The ingredient list shows that the coffee here is simply roasted with sugar and salt, instead of the margarine or butter that I think is more associated with Kopi.

Their Kopi O Kosong is individually bagged and finely ground. A colleague complained about the fact that the instructions ask you to gently press the coffee for 3 minutes with a spoon, but I don’t think it made much of a difference in the end.

Taste Test

And because I am the night, I will be having this Kopi O Kosong as is. Just black… like my soul.

It’s not a phase mom. It’s just who I am.

Actually, it’s because our office doesn’t have milk. I’m an admitted milk fiend who worships the cow, so having it pure black was admittedly a disappointment.

Anyway, there you have it: pure Kopi O Kosong.

The Kopi O can be described as thick and robust. Compared to the cheaper Kopi O Kosong brands, this is thick.

It’s quite bitter and to me almost tobacco-like with hints of wheat. As the ingredients would suggest, it is lacking in the buttery margarine taste that most Kopitiams Kopi would have.

I imagine the strong taste would make this good to pair with milk and sugar.

Those who like their Kopi Gao Gao will probably like this, though it is more expensive than other Kopi O brands. I’d say it’s about right for the price, just take note that it can be too bitter for those who don’t usually drink black.

Rating: 3/5