KLANG, Dec 16— A Malaysian coffee roaster factory, which has over half-a-century history, is still insisting on roasting coffee beans in a wood-fired way unlike many coffee companies using modern methods.
According to Anadolu Agency, the Chuan Hoe Coffee Powder Factory has been operating in the city of Klang in the Selangor state since 1960.
Founded as a family business, the factory stuck to the traditional roasting methods although many coffee factories in the country use electric roasters for mass production.
“We only use wood [to roast the coffee beans]. It is very difficult to roast with wood. Controlling wood fire is not easy. It would be easier and quicker if we roasted it using gas,” said 63-year-old Tan Loon Chuan, the operator and heir of the factory.
For the best taste and aroma of coffee, the wood-fired roasting is the best way, he said.
“That is why they never changed the method. We got skilled at this business by watching the previous generation do it. We followed exactly what our masters told us. We always listened to them carefully.”
Tan said their coffee-addicted customers and some cafes who have been shopping from their factory for years see the difference easily.
They get orders from countries such as Colombia, Peru, Indonesia, Guatemala and Yemen for the 17 different types of coffee, it added.
Among them “Kopi-O”, the traditional coffee of Malaysia is one of the locals’ all-time favourites and is the best-selling one. In its production, the coffee beans are fried with butter after roasting and they are mixed with sugar.
During an ordinary production day, many coffee lovers stop by the old factory to buy coffee roasted in a wood fire.
Although Covid-19 has affected their businesses, Tan said they did not lose much income, and noted that coffee addicts always visit the factory for shopping.
— Bernama
