The Dark and the Frothy: Beijing's finest coffees

Despite the closure of the Starbucks in the Forbidden City in 2007, coffee culture is ever more entrenched in China's capital. Below is a selection of Beijing’s classiest cafes, which score high marks for both ambience and smooth, decadent coffee concoctions.

Affogato al Espresso (Cafe Zarah)
One shot of bittersweet espresso poured over a scoop of Italian ice cream delivers the best of both worlds: hot, dark-brewed coffee with cold, smooth creamy goodness. Zarah’s brew is intense, smoky and not for the fainthearted, which delightfully complements the ice cream’s silkiness. Avail yourself of the fine WiFi as you savor their caffeine concoctions. Daily 10am-midnight. 42 Gulou Dongdajie, Dongcheng District. (8403 9807) www.cafezarah.com 东城区鼓楼东大街42号

Irish Coffee (Unconditional Love Coffee)
Situated behind the Today Art museum, the coffee-shop-by-day, bar-by-night concept of ULC has become a hit with its versatile coffee menu and artistic concoctions. Owner Lawrence Chen is a certified barista who serves up deliciously crafted drinks. Try the Irish coffee: a streaming mug of coffee mixed with generous helpings of whipped cream, brown sugar and imported Irish whisky. An unbalanced mix of Irish coffee may contain too much coffee or whiskey, but ULC serves it up just right. Mon-Fri 8:00am-10:30pm, Sat-Sun 9am-11:30pm. 3-A-110, Pingod North, 32 Baiziwan Lu, Chaoyang District. (58263652) www.ulcoffee.com 朝阳区朝阳区百子湾路32号苹果社区今日美术馆往东100米

Cappuccino and Café Gourmand (Comptoirs de France)
There’s no denying that Comptoirs de France’s main attractions are its decadent pastries and desserts, but the bakery-cafe hybrid also serves up great cappuccinos. With a milky coffee taste, a kick of espresso and the perfect topping of foam and froth, Comptoirs de France’s cappuccinos are a worthy companion for their delectable pastries. Better yet, for the full bakery cafe experience, splurge on the cafe gourmand (RMB 50) – a coffee drink of your choice accompanied by a selection of eclairs, pastries and macaroons. 1) Daily 7am-9.30pm. 4 Ritan Beilu (next to Jenny Lou’s), Chaoyang District. (8562 3355); 2) Daily 7am-9pm. 1/F, East Lake Club, 35 Dongzhimenwai Dajie, Dongcheng District. (6461 1525); 3) Daily 7am-9pm. 1/F, Bldg 5, Hairun International Condominiums, 2B Jiangtai Lu, Chaoyang District. (5135 7645); 4) Daily 7am-9pm. Rm 102, 1/F, Bldg 15, China Central Place, 89 Jianguo Lu, Chaoyang District. (6530 5480); 5) Daily 7am-9pm. L-111, Europlaza, 99 Yuxiang Lu, Tianzhu Zhen, Shunyi District. (8046 6309); 6) Daily 7am- 8.30pm. 2/F Riviera Plaza, 5 Laiguangying Donglu, Chaoyang District. (8470 2347)www.comptoirsdefrance.com 法派, 1) 朝阳区日坛北路4号; 2) 东城区东直门外大街35号东湖俱乐部1层; 3) 朝阳区将台路乙2号海润国际公寓商业5一层; 4) 朝阳区建国路89号华贸中心15号楼102; 5) 顺义区天竺镇裕翔路99号欧陆广场L111室; 6) 朝阳区来广营东路5号2楼东侧

Espresso con Panna (Sequoia Cafe and Bakery)
[Editor's Note: Updated Address] With their gleaming La Pavoni espresso machine, and fresh Arabica roasters coffee, this bright and cheerful Guanghua Lu cafe offers a wide variety of lattes, blended frappe coffees and espressos. The Espresso con Panna is a dense, caramel-sweet mug of wonder, composed of a single shot espresso softened with a dollop of whipped cream. Daily 8am-8pm Kerry Centre Mall, B1-36 (next to Papa John's Pizza, 1 Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang District (8529 6418) www.sequoiacafe.com 朝阳区光华路1号北京嘉里中心B1-36号

Jamaican Blended Chilled Lattes (Jamaica Blue Coffee)
This Australian cafe chain caters to those who know their coffee beans (and are willing to pay the price). Subsequently, the café has no reason to compromise its quality; their drinks are made with 100% Arabica beans sourced from six regions around the world. Their iced mocha latte is crafted delicately and topped with smooth and frothy whip cream. With excellent service, a TV screen and WiFi available, the quiet and cozy ambience is great for an afternoon date or to sit back and relax after a day of shopping.
Daily 7am-9pm. RS-16, Section 11, Solana, 6 Chaoyang Gongyuan Lu, Chaoyang District. 牙买加蓝色咖啡馆,朝阳区朝阳区朝阳公园路6号SOLANA蓝色港湾国际商区11栋RS-16商铺

Caffe Mocha (Sculpting in Time)
Zhuang, the owner of this local coffee chain, believes that “a cafe is a place to communicate, to write, read and do creative thinking.” Accordingly, here time comes to a standstill, and the soothing atmosphere of these coffee shops transforms them into a home away from home, especially among students at the Weigongcun and Wudaokou branches. The caffe mocha is one of their most popular offerings, decorated with chocolate sauce in the shape of a star and resting on light vanilla creamer. Prices are not to be grumbled about, as 15 RMB should grant you an Illy coffee drink plus a free refill. Customers come for the coffee but stay for the atmosphere, and can spend hours in the coffee shop surfing the net. 1) Daily 7.30am-midnight. Shop 3A, Hairun International Condominiums, 2B Jiangtai Lu, Chaoyang District. (5135 8108); 2) Daily 8.30am-1am. 7 Weigongcun Lu, south gate of Beijing Institute of Technology, Haidian District. (6894 6825); 3) Mon-Thu 9am-11.30pm, Fri-Sun 9am-midnight. 50 Xiangshan Maimai Jie (next to the east gate of Fragrant Hills), Haidian District. (8259 0040) www.sitcoffee.com 雕刻时光, 1)朝阳区将台路乙2号海润国际公寓商业3A; 2)海淀区魏公村路7号北京理工大学南门; 3)海淀区香山买卖街50号

Espresso (Treescape/No. 32 Cafe)
Nestled along the tranquil Qianliang Hutong north of Dongsi, this elegant, artistic cafe (once known as Caribou Cafe) is lined with bookshelves full of old classics and collections. A hidden gem that feels like an oasis of serenity far from the boisterous cacophonies of the city, this is a perfect place for either relaxation or rumination. The baristas serve up strong coffee brewed from Italian Lavazza coffee beans, which is not for the amateur coffee drinker. (In fact, many Chinese customers opt for herbal rose and peppermint teas at Qianliang instead). Daily 11am-10pm. 32 Qianliang Hutong, Dongcheng District. (6404 6297) 东城区东四北大街钱粮胡同32号

The Dragon Coffee (Jackie Chan Cafe) [Editor's Update: This shop's been closed!]
Show your further support for the legendary actor by sipping coffee in the Jackie Chan Café while you wait around at the airport (or in a mall in Zhongguancun). 10 RMB can get you a cup of creamy coffee and a caffeine buzz. Featuring photo collages of Jackie Chan and co. on its walls and purveying drinks bearing dragon logos, these cafes stock plenty of requisite JC memorabilia. The coffee itself is mediocre, but it’s the thought that counts, as the philanthropic actor has pledged to donate some of the cafe’s profits to China’s underprivileged children. Drinks come in tall, grande and “dragon” sizes. Daily 9am-midnight. L107 The Gate Bldg,19 Zhongguancun Nandajie, Haidian District. 海淀区中关村南大街19号新中关大厦L107