[Tokyo 東京] Cobi Coffee 古美珈琲

l1165717

Follow me on FacebookInstagramWeibo, and Wechat (id: sugarednspiced)!

Cobi Coffee

Add: 5-10-5 Minato, Minami Aoyama, Tokyo / 東京都港区南青山 5-10-5 第一九曜ビル 1F
Tel: +81-3-6427-3976
Hours: [Mon-Fri] 8am-8pm [Sat-Sun] 9am-8pm
Website: bloom-branch.jp/shop/aoyama
Price: coffee 450~750 yen
Visited: Oct 2016

Before we talk about Cobi Coffee, let’s take a look at Bloom & Branch, the select shop that houses the cafe. Bloom & Branch is a boutique with a curated selection of clothing and housewares, highlighting craftsmanship whether it’s a pair of jeans or a coffee cup. Curiously, it’s also got a shoe shine bar called  “The Bar by Brift H” installed right at the center of the boutique – very stylish.

南青山有一家非常漂亮的 select shop,名為 Bloom & Branch。這裡除了有服飾、雜貨、咖啡之外,非常有意思的一點是裡面的 “The Bar by Brift H” shoe shine bar(擦鞋吧)。想要保養皮鞋的,不論是擦拭,清理劃痕還是補色,都可以在這裡得到服務,這個一般的合集店可是沒有的。

l1165657

l1165667

In the right corner of Bloom & Branch is Cobi Coffee, a sleek little cafe done in seasoned wood, aged brass, and copper. The seating arrangement is modeled after a Japanese tea room, where the host sits at the center and prepares tea in front of the guests. Cobi (古美) translates roughly to “beauty in age”, and this is reflected in many parts of the coffee shop, such as the beautiful copper pot and the ceramic cups in which coffee is served.

而位於 Bloom & Branch 入門口角落的 Cobi CoffeeCobi 也很有自己的風格。(こび)意思是 “古美”,很有味道的一個名字,店裏的裝修和杯具也都是如其名的沈穩古典風格。

l1165691

The coffee is from Obscura Coffee Roasters, and though they offer espresso drinks, the pour-over coffee prepared through a cloth filter is what they most excel at.

而 Cobi Coffee,則是由位于三軒茶屋的咖啡名店 Obscura Coffee Roasters 打造。這裡有義式咖啡也有手沖咖啡,不過手沖咖啡似乎比較出色。

l1165677

Continue Reading "[Tokyo 東京] Cobi Coffee 古美珈琲"
[Tokyo 東京] Cafe Kitsuné

l1165639

Follow me on FacebookInstagramWeibo, and Wechat (id: sugarednspiced)!

Cafe Kitsuné

Add: 3-17-1 Minami-Aoyama, Minato Ku, Tokyo / 東京都港区南青山3-17-1
Tel: +81-3-5786-4842
Hours: 9am-8pm
Website: www.kitsune.fr
Price: coffee ~500 yen
Visited: Oct 2016

French music + fashion label Maison Kitsuné’s cafe in Paris used to be one of my go-to places with friends when I lived there – the outdoor seating under the green shades of Palais Royal is simply perfect on a nice day. But even before Paris, the first Cafe Kitsuné was actually opened in Tokyo back in 2013, located in the stylish Minami-Aoyama area. We explore.

Maison Kitsuné 是個日法混血的音樂+服飾品牌,這幾年來也開起了咖啡店。我住巴黎時就很常去 Palais Royal 裡的 Cafe Kitsuné,簡單有型的小店面加上舒服的露天座位,是我和朋友們聊天的不二選擇。不過早在巴黎之前,Cafe Kitsuné 的第一家店其實開在東京,地點就在潮店雲集的南青山一帶。門面相當低調,一不注意就會錯過,得多多留意。

l1165592

The entrance is not especially noticeable to the passerbys, though most people come looking for it specifically, so it’s difficult to miss. The Tokyo cafe was transformed from a Japanese house, and much of the traditional elements have been kept intact or reinforced, such as by installing tatami and fusumi sliding doors custom-made from a 70-year-old studio in Shimbashi.

和巴黎的裝修風格不同,東京店將一個和式空間稍做改造,保留了濃濃的日本味。從門口開始就以竹子爲主材料,室內用了定制的榻榻米和日式拉門(聽說是在新橋一家70多歲的老工作室特別定做的)。

l1165620

The baristas are all clad in Kitsuné fashion, and the music is likewise Kitsuné. The vibe is cool, and business is good – the space has always been filled during the few times I passed by, weekends or not.

咖啡師們穿著 Kitsuné 的衣服,店裡的音樂也是 Kitsuné 發行的專輯,風格從頭到尾貫徹的很徹底。咖啡店生意非常的好,我幾次經過時店內都幾乎坐滿了,不論平日還是周末。

l1165621

l1165603

Continue Reading "[Tokyo 東京] Cafe Kitsuné"
[Hong Kong 香港] The Cupping Room

L1159785

Follow me on FacebookInstagramWeibo, and Wechat (id: sugarednspiced)!

The Cupping Room (Wanchai)

Add: 32 Shantou Street, Wanchai, Hong Kong
Tel: +852 2371 2338
Hours: [weekdays] 8am-5pm [weekends] 9am-6pm
Price: 30-60 HKD/coffee
Visited: Aug 2016

We happened to pass by The Cupping Room after leaving Omotesando Koffee, and decided to try a cup from this famed cafe as well. Kapo the owner has been winning awards at Hong Kong Barista Championships for 3 years in a row, and has also represented Hong Kong at the World Barista Championships, winning #2 in 2014. His first cafe is in Sheungwan, though apparently he spends more of his time at this Wanchai location.

離開 Omotesando Koffee 後正好路過大名鼎鼎的The Cupping Room,決定再來一杯。老板Kapo曾連續三年在香港咖啡師大賽獲獎,並且于2014年代表香港參加 “世界咖啡大師賽” 獲得第二名,是香港咖啡界的名人。他的首家店開在上環,不過據說他本人經常在灣仔店站台,雖然我到訪的這天沒有看到他。

L1159783

L1159791

L1159787

Cute tiles.

小花地磚好可愛。

L1159789

Continue Reading "[Hong Kong 香港] The Cupping Room"
[Shanghai] Paloma Cafe 白鳥咖啡

L1145217

Paloma Cafe 白鳥咖啡

Add: 198 Second Ruijin Road, near West Jianguo Road / 瑞金二路198弄-1, 近建国西路
Tel: 5466 6612
Hours: [Wed-Mon] 9:30am-9pm [Tue] 12-5pm
Price: [coffee] 22-45 RMB [cakes] 35-40 RMB [set] 55 RMB
Visited: Nov 2015

The rain persists in Shanghai, and on this particular morning I sought refuge at Paloma Cafe, a quaint little place perched on the 2nd floor of the busy Ruijin Road / Jianguo Road intersection. The cafe owner wasn’t there on the morning of my visit, though I heard from the staff that he/she is Shanghainese by origin and has spent some time in Japan. I was the only customer on this quiet morning, and happily enjoyed my coffee and cake while listening to the sound of raindrops falling outside.

L1145341

L1145316

L1145158

A cup of coffee and a piece of house-made cake goes for 55 RMB, a pretty good deal I’d say. My latte was nice, just don’t forget to request for a heavier dose of espresso shot since the coffee here tends to be more on the light side due to popular request. The Earl Grey rolled cake quite lovely as well, though the tea bits in the whipped cream bothered me a little bit. Loved the little bird motif on the plate.

L1145217

Continue Reading "[Shanghai] Paloma Cafe 白鳥咖啡"
[Paris] Holybelly

Like my FACEBOOK PAGE or follow me on TWITTER / 微博!

Holybelly

Add: 19 Rue Lucien Sampaix, 75010 Paris
Tel: +33 9 73 60 13 64
Hours: [Mon-Fri] 8am~6pm [Sat-Sun] 10am~6pm (closed on Tue)
Website: www.facebook.com/holybellycafe
Price: €2.50~4/coffee, €4~13/breakfast items, €9~12/lunch items
Visited on: Oct 2013

Yes, bacon-glazed brownies do exist in this world, and you may have them with a cup of glorious latte at Holybelly here in Paris. Nico Avery and Sarah Mouchot, a very sweet French couple, have spent some time working in the food and coffee scene in Melbourne, and are bringing back that simple deliciousness to Paris. I have actually been to Nico’s old workplace Market Lane when I visited Melbourne two Springs ago, and can attest that it’s a very charming place. Holybelly opened just two months ago, and the difficult but rewarding process has been chronicled on their blog – a fun read for those who are interested in dipping their toes in the F&B business, myself included.

By the way, absolutely love these patterns.

sugared & spiced - paris holybelly

That’s Nico, behind the bar.

That’s Sarah in the kitchen, accompanied by Lise, who is actually a classmate from Ferrandi.

Continue Reading "[Paris] Holybelly"
[Paris] Télescope

Like my FACEBOOK PAGE or follow me on TWITTER / 微博!

Télescope

Add: 5 Rue Villedo, 75001 Paris
Tel: 01 42 61 33 14
Hours: [Mon-Fri] 8:30am~6:30pm [Sat-Sun] 9:30am~6:30pm
Website: www.telescopecafe.com
Price: [coffee] €2~5 [desserts] €2.5~5.5
Visited on: Dec 2012

It only just opened half a year ago in May 2012, but Télescope has already been applauded as one of the best places to get coffee in Paris. Its front window emanates the kind of cozy warm lighting that draws passerby right in, but the tiny shop accommodates no more than 10 people at full capacity. Come try your luck, or get a cup to go.

Continue Reading "[Paris] Télescope"