I first had these coffee buns in Singapore. I did a lot of travels there and despite the fact of having so many hotels to try and choose from, I always pick Pan Pacific, for the sole reason that it’s walking distance from Kopi Roti. I would take dozens of these delectable buns no matter how squished they get in my suitcase. To my delight, a branch opened in my neighborhood in Davao, which sort of curtailed my everyday need for these buns with my breakfast coffee.

I have gotten over my cravings when I moved to San Francisco and eventually Houston, with all the other delicious new cuisine that I was partaking. It wasn’t until I was in Vancouver last summer when the beast was awakened. My husband and I were walking along North of Vancouver Pier when I smelled the distinct aroma of these coffee buns. We followed my nose (and GPS;  I Googled it, like I do with everything else), and there it was, my long forgotten love, my coffee buns. True to form, I hoarded a couple of dozens and froze them as soon as I got back home.

Alas, my stash was gone in a few short days.  I turned to Google and there is not a single store in Houston offering such delectable buns. What I found, however, were a gazillion recipes on how to make them. Most of the recipes have measurement in grams, not cups and tablespoons. Contrary to the popular reference as Mexican coffee buns, these actually originated in Malaysia, hence the measurements. I have been to Malaysia 15 years ago, these were not popular then. Had it been, I would have found reasons to go back and visit. The Petronas Tower, as magnificent as it is, does not warrant return trips…sorry.

I tried several recipes until I found one that worked for me. I have tweaked some of it to the best recollection of my palate.