Coffee17 - Shanghai x Hangzhou

  Documentation of the 2 weeks of caffeine x art journey, if it helps those who share the same interest. This chapter covers Shanghai & Hangzhou.

NOTE: Most of the artwork in these posts were shared via Instagram @shikeesart.


DAY 01 上海

AUNN Cafe & Co.
静安区南京西路1728号,近华山路
1728 Nanjing Xi Lu
When you see Jing An Temple out of the subway station, you're pretty much there. Just across the road.


All U Need Now, so that was what AUNN stands for. Coffee's... fine? Don't have much impression of the flat white. Feels commodity > Artisan. The cork textured takeaway cup was fancy though. 

  First stop of the trip, tried to get into the zone (of sketching). There was a store with luxurious designer lifestyle enhancement items connected via staircases within store during my visit.


Sumerian

西北路415號, 近北京西路
415 Shaanxi N Rd, Jingan Qu, Shanghai Shi, China, 200000

  I don't really know the reason but this place's got mixture of young ones, of different races. Served food, booze and coffee. Rocks a La Marzocco, like most of the cafes I visited in Shanghai. Elaborated designed bean bags (last photo of Seoul post).
  The flat white I ordered was potent and bold with prominent body, I think it was the house blend.  
  They had 4-5 beans for sale at that time. Lost my check-in backpack (I know, pretty stupid idea. Who would check in a backpack...) and Sumerian bean, together with some others, were in there. Alas.


DAY 02

Café del Volcán
永康路80号
80 Yong Kang Lu, Xuhui, Shanghai, China, 200031



  Young and friendly teenager barista with a wide range of beans to offer - serve/retail. Did shots and flat white. Bought their Holiday blend and Ethiopian Hambela SO. The beans came with well-designed printing and cards with information of the bean: origin, notes.



Fumi coffee



富民路215號,近巨鹿路
215 Fumin Rd, Jingan Qu, Shanghai Shi, China, 200000



4 beans in canisters to let customer have a look/smell. Good setup. From the brief research prior, I was able to tell the founder of the cafe's there at the bar, together with about 3-4 other staff.You can easily tell his passion for coffee, knows his stuff and friendly, and offered me a shot free of charge. 


  
  And of course, I grabbed the chance to request my first PMOC (pour my own coffee) of the trip. Thick foamy one. 


Seesaw Coffee
愚园路433号静安设计中心内1F
433 Yuyuan Rd, Jingan Qu, Shanghai Shi, China, 200000
Tricky this one. The entrance's at connected from driveway you have to turn in from the man road.

I was told later that is the oldest and flagship branch? The joint was definitely picturesque... including this Strada AV :D





The staff was kind to let me pour my own rich and fruity flatwhite at their open bar, and shared pouring tips.
Brut Cake Cafe愚园路698号, 近镇宁路698 Yuyuan Lu, near Zhenning Lu



  A joint with super warming service at the counter. It's a shame I didn't able to try their breakfast that sounded real delicious from the descriptions, or any food for that matter -..- I think coffee was not their focus. The barista screwed up the milk (of the shot in the shot), but the Velvet chocolate I had during another visit during the stay was pretty good, especially in a cool night.
DAY 03 杭州Random Cafe & Design@鳳凰御園文化創業基地
鳳凰山腳路7號鳳凰御園D6













Traveled a bit to get to this joint, located within a designated area for design and creativity. However the whole area's lack of maintenance, and I really don't think creativity's gonna flourish this way.


  Random itself looks well taken care of though.

  Clear view of the gear from the lifestyle items store at 2nd floor. I bet the items are so attractive, a couple of ladies in dress/skirt forgot (I assume) about this glass panel...
  House blend of natural Brazil x Washed Sidamo x Natural Yirgacheffe. Great floral with milk.

  They let me pour, too. Appreciate it. Art was inspired by the scenery I collected so far in Hangzhou and the cafe itself (the lady, whoever you're thanks for the help of translation).

  2 things I think would really improve the image : More refined paper choice for the menu, and.please iron barista's shirt.



Caffeing 咖啡隱

餘杭塘路中天西成紀431號商鋪
431 Yuhangtang Rd, Gongshu Qu, Hangzhou Shi, Zhejiang Sheng, China 310000


  Real quiet and serene joint. In fact I was the only customer during my stay at 1900+. I learnt the reason only later... They lost their attraction barista.
  Manager/boss (not sure) with family and friend, included a poodle, and an apprentice-like young barista were the other humans. Dimmed warm lighting with raw industrial themed environment.

Quick one. 

DAY 04

謝謝生活

浙江省杭州市上城區南山路180號
180 Nanshan Lu, Shangcheng Qu, Hangzhou Shi, Zhejiang Sheng, China 310000












Located by the main road along West Lake. Cool drizzling morning walk from airbnb stay. Watching the birds, bus, people, bicycles and rain drops...



  Frothed and poured this! 
  The barista declined my request (of pouring my own coffee) and served me one with a heart she did. Then, she came over to offer opportunity for pouring with one condition - teach her rosetta. I did this for warm up, getting used to the machine and steam wand... and the session, unfortunately, forced to come to its end with the arrival of the manager. Luckily I was done with this and out of the bar so no harm done on her. 
  Coffee was single shot. Little weak in the context of specialty coffee but I guess that's just their protocol.


貓的天空之城書店 (杭州南宋御街店)
杭州市上城区中山中路23-25号
23-25 Zhong Shan Zhong Lu, ShangCheng Qu, Hangzhou Shi, Zhejiang Sheng, China 310009





Serious looking barista was super cool, agreed my request, invited me behind the bar for my own steam and pour!!! Thanks.

Hmm. Fluffy frothed :/


Feeling the movement of time. Every shot's a tad more lively with a soul in it.

漸漸咖啡 

Peu à peu Café 


浙江省杭州市上城区中山中路244号(近开元路)
244 Zhongshan Zhong Lu, Shangcheng Qu, Hangzhou Shi, Zhejiang Sheng, China 310003


  Big paws lazed around, and a little companion at the back. Poor aged boy with arthritis can hardly walk... Stroked, patted, scratched.  



  Walked pass this joint a day before, didn't feel like much, but decided to check it out since it's the last day here. Why not? No big paws were not part of the influence factor. 
  The moment I walked close to the counter, I knew it was a shame if I missed it.The family-like vibe, air molecule's filled with the passion of the lady owner, Dandan, who chatted with me, shared the Chinese tea she was brewing with me, while sharing knowledge and intel of coffee scene in Hangzhou with me. These were all after she let me frothed me own milk (twice), and pour, of course. Lousy pour didn't shadow the big warm heart of Dandan!
  The pâtissier was quiet but equally friendly lady. Tiramisu was great.


DAY 05

Fuel Espresso
上海市浦東新區陸家嘴世紀大道8號
8 Century Ave, LujiaZui, Pudong Xinqu, Shanghai Shi, China 200000


Wellington Flat White. ¥48/S$ 9+. 
Smh really. Most overcharged, overheated coffee I had for this trip.

DAY 06

T12:Lab 
上海市徐匯區吳興路5號
5 Wuxing Lu, Xuhui Qu, Shanghai Shi

A group of high energy talented young baristas run the show. Know their stuff and serve with attention. Followed up with me via IG post. Gotta love them!



EDM Cafe
上海市徐匯區建國西路348號
348 Jianguo Xi Lu, Xuhui Qu, Shanghai Shi.

  Wandered over this one by chance after T12. I spent a good time admiring up close that fancy Slayer Steam! Not surprised when the barista told me they're one of the very few to own this machine in Shanghai.
  Cafe + workspace and meeting space rental + rooftop for fashion photoshoot. Most surprising encounter of this trip. 

Note: You can't find EDM music here... it does not stand for the music genre, but it's the combination of the initials of the owner's 3 kids.


Not a good pour, at all -..-


Seesaw Coffee (百聯世紀)
世紀大道 1217 百聯世紀購物中心1層
Shiji Bailian Shopping Centre 1F

  Intense fruity shot. Friendly barista shared her V60 brew sample with me. Thanks!
A Shame I didn't able to brew with their bean x..x

  With this, my caffeinated caffeine adventure of China was ended. Next stop, Seoul.

Thanks.


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