Why Are There So Many Coffee Shops in Shanghai? Because "Half of What Flows Through Shanghai People's Veins is Coffee"!

Someone asked: "What are your thoughts on the community lockdown?" A Shanghai resident responded: "I'm done for. I'm not prepared, there's no more coffee to drink!"

How much do Shanghai residents love coffee? A comment that topped the Weibo trending list answers that question.

What started as an ordinary comment unexpectedly struck a chord with many Shanghai residents. Netizens expressed their resonance: "That's totally me!" When given the chance to go out after lockdown, the first thing they think of is buying coffee. Food can be improvised, but coffee is indispensable. Of course, these comments represent individual netizens rather than all Shanghai residents.

This Weibo post also caught the attention of the official Hema account, which could not resist replying: "Ah, we should stock up on more coffee." Even the official Link Coffee account chimed in, immediately asking the original poster: "Where do you live, young lady? If you're nearby, I can deliver some to you, haha." Luckin Coffee, seeing this, quickly added: "I'm late. Better late than never."

Some netizens even commented: "Shanghai people's veins run half with coffee and half with Guangming dairy!" In the past, Guangming dairy was drunk straight; now people want to use it to make lattes.

Shanghai's Coffee Culture by Numbers

Do you think the netizens are exaggerating? Look at the data. According to Rising Lab, a research institution under Shanghai's First Financial Media, Shanghai had over 7,000 coffee shops as of the end of 2021, making it the city with the most coffee shops in the world. Dividing the average annual sales of local coffee shops by the resident population gives an average annual coffee consumption of 20-plus cups per person in Shanghai. That may not sound like much, but it counts only coffee shop sales; not everyone living in Shanghai drinks coffee, and those who do don't necessarily visit coffee shops.

Source: Dianping, OpenStreetMap, New First-tier Cities Commercial Database

A Cultural Deep Dive

On the question of whether all Shanghai residents love coffee, a local Shanghai blogger vividly captured the attitude of most Shanghai people toward coffee in a video.

Source: Weibo "G Sengdong"

Shanghai people's love of coffee comes more from habit. During the Republic of China era, coffee drinking became popular among the city's upper class, and many Chinese-owned coffee shops could be seen on the bustling streets. Starting in the 1960s, coffee became accessible to ordinary people, with vacuum-packed coffee powder appearing on the market and gradually integrating into daily life. The older generation of Shanghai residents thus developed the habit of drinking coffee. Habits are passed down from generation to generation, and coffee drinking and coffee culture have long been woven into the fabric of Shanghai life.

Source: Coffee tea making

Like tea drinking, coffee can be enjoyed through elaborate brewing or simply boiled in a pot. Not everyone pursues specialty freshly ground coffee, nor does every cup need refined flavors. Ready-to-drink, instant, and drip coffee all work just fine. Coffee is a beverage, and a daily signal to encourage yourself and feel energized. It is energy, it is strength, and it is a ritual that lets you switch states.

Regional Perspectives on Fatigue

This trending Weibo topic reminded me of something. If you tell a Shanghai person you feel a bit tired, they might say you need some time for yourself, and suggest you go to a coffee shop to relax with a cup.

But if you tell someone from Guangdong you feel tired, they will likely say you have "dampness" in your body, and advise you to drink more herbal tea, more dampness-clearing soup, and if that does not work, to get cupping or scraping, and then a good night's sleep.

Just thinking about it brings the scene vividly to mind.

Image source: Internet, Weibo

Video source: Weibo "G Sengdong"

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

A city can run on coffee, but a good latte depends on the bean. For espresso and moka pot drinks that take milk, FrontStreet Classic Blend, FrontStreet Black Cocoa Blend, FrontStreet Premium Blend, and FrontStreet Commercial Blend are the core picks. Because Brazilian coffee dominates the Premium and Black Cocoa blends, a latte made with them shows complex nut notes such as almond, macadamia, and walnut, with a silky, lingering mouthfeel. If you want a latte with rich crema, choose Classic Blend or Commercial Blend; both contain a small amount of Robusta, which adds golden foam and instantly lifts the body and caramel aroma.

If you prefer pour-over coffee with milk, the coffee base is lighter, so you need a medium-dark single origin so the coffee is not overwhelmed. FrontStreet PWN Golden Mandheling, FrontStreet Bird of Paradise, and FrontStreet Queen's Estate are strong choices, since all bring chocolate, nut, cream, or cocoa characters that stay present alongside milk.

For cold brew with milk, an intense iced coffee also blends well, and the lower extraction temperature favors fruity or winey medium roasts over heavily roasted beans. FrontStreet Colombia Sidra brings passion fruit, FrontStreet Strawberry Candy Geisha Blend brings rose, and FrontStreet Mozart brings raisin; made as cold brew and finished with a little milk, all three stay balanced and easy to distinguish. Whatever you choose, keep your beans fresh and your brew clean, and Shanghai's daily coffee ritual is easy to bring home.