It's Cooling Down in Guangzhou! Want to Warm Up with a Cup of Coffee? Latest Café Guide is Here!

With the weather being so pleasant lately, shall we go grab a cup of coffee together?

Sure! How about we first check out the Coffee Workshop's cafe guide?

Cafe Exploration

2021 First Edition

by Coffee Workshop

Fang Coffee

Address: No. 40 Fangcao Street, Zhongshan Fourth Road, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou

Business Hours: 10:00-23:30 (Dianping)

This is a coffee shop located at the intersection of Fangcao Street, bustling with the vibrancy of daily life. Some customers order a coffee at the counter and hurry away with it, while others choose to spend an entire afternoon in the cafe. There are seats for dine-in customers, but the dining area is not large—with no more than five tables total between the upstairs and downstairs. The horizontal window design not only expands the dining area but also brings the barista and customers closer together—a clever touch.

As a newly opened shop, the staff mentioned they currently have a buy-two-get-one-free promotion (for those living nearby, hurry and take advantage of this offer)!

The shop features a predominantly cream-colored interior, with a small side door leading to the second floor. As the Cantonese saying goes, "There's plenty of time ahead, let's drink first and talk later."

Fang Coffee offers five main product categories: espresso coffee, creative coffee, single-origin coffee, non-coffee beverages, and food.

Note: Espresso coffee can be made with either blended beans or SOE (Single Origin Espresso).

Simple Reviews

Editor No. 6 ordered three coffee drinks: Natural Process Guji, Hops Americano, and the Manager's Special.

Among these, Editor No. 6's favorite was the Manager's Special—a drink full of delightful surprises: rich in milky flavor, with both the pineapple cake filling and the buttery crust taste coming through in this beverage, refreshing without being overwhelming!

For pour-over coffee, the barista lets you smell the dry aroma (highly recommended!)

The dry aroma of Guji has subtle floral notes and a fermented quality. When hot, the entry is smooth, but personally, I found it somewhat thin-bodied. As the temperature drops, acidity emerges, but the flavors aren't distinctly clear. At lower temperatures, it primarily presents citrus notes, becoming overall brighter.

The Hops Americano has the feel of craft beer, with noticeable fermentation. The homemade dried orange slices not only enhance visual appeal but also add layers to the coffee's complexity.

firewood

Address: 52-3 Renkangli, Wende Road, Yuexiu District

Business Hours: Monday to Thursday 13:00-19:00
                      Friday to Saturday 13:00-24:00
                      Sunday 13:00-20:00 (Dianping)

The overall style of the shop leans toward American vintage: primarily wooden materials, with large areas of blue walls complemented by white. Ceiling fans and pipes add some rugged industrial elements to the space. The shop isn't large, but the warm yellow lighting significantly enhances the ambiance.

Drinking Coffee

Editor No. 6, having taken advantage of the previous cafe's promotion and drunk too much coffee, only ordered a pour-over of Dehong Junma Coffee Estate beans at firewood. The barista used the gooseneck kettle that Editor No. 6 had been dreaming of. This coffee bean has distinct ginger flower aromas, with citrus and grapefruit acidity. The aftertaste has noticeable tea-like qualities, but overall, it feels somewhat thin-bodied and develops astringency at lower temperatures.

In addition to pour-over coffee, firewood's product series also includes: black coffee, milk coffee, dirty, coffee specials, sodas, cocktails, and food. (Editor No. 6 didn't try alcohol, but you can give it a try—they have a wall full of liquor that looks impressive!)

As I was leaving, the barista was repainting the logo at the entrance. These touches of everyday life always warm many people's hearts. From nothing to something, every small detail has been thoughtfully designed and is worth pondering.

The Common Cup

Address: First Floor, No. 11, Huierji 2nd Fang, Zhongshan Sixth Road
        (50 meters straight in from the former Ta Kung Pao newspaper site)

Business Hours: Tuesday to Sunday 12:00-20:00 (Dianping)

I heard from friends that this is a long-standing cafe in Guangzhou, previously named Dou Dou Coffee, located near the Zhongda Fabric Market on Yile Road. Later, it was renamed The Common Cup and moved to Huierji 2nd Fang. When I visited, I had trouble finding it for a while. It's tucked away in an alley without a sign—quite distinctive.

coffee

the common cup

This shop specializes in pour-over coffee, though espresso is also available but accounts for a smaller portion. The overall style leans toward Japanese aesthetics, with wooden tables and chairs. The second floor is under renovation and temporarily closed. The large roaster, soft music, and quietly conversing customers create a naturally harmonious atmosphere.

Drinking Coffee

I ordered a cup of Colombia Red Bourbon

This coffee has exceptional cleanliness and sweetness, with rich honeysuckle aromas. The overall fruit juice quality is strong—when hot, it leans toward sweet orange, and as the temperature drops, the flavors transform into grapefruit and plum—lively, bright, and refreshing.

Ten years of work experience have been distilled into this small shop, transforming into a personal style that is calm yet warm. It's evident that coffee-related equipment accounts for the main expenditure.

According to the shop manager, the pour-over drippers used for daily service are handmade by him. The opening size relative to the overall volume is smaller than that of a wave dripper, and the filter paper at the bottom is suspended, unable to fit snugly against the dripper's bottom. The dripper only serves as a frame for support, with drainage and filtering relying entirely on the filter paper.

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Here are some photos inadvertently captured during the cafe visits

Thank you to the above shops for sharing their stories

Friends, see you next time!

01

The counter at Fang Coffee, with "There's plenty of time ahead" visible overhead

02

Encountering schoolchildren on Fangcao Street after school

03

When leaving firewood, the owner was painting

04

I couldn't see the sign and searched for a long time

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