New Zealand Honey Lattes and White Wine Drips Stand Out at Esquires Coffee

At first glance, Esquires Coffee’s new branch in The Place gave us deja vu. That's because its clean, steely decor and simple counter-as-an-island setup all reminded us vividly of Seesaw Coffee, a Shanghai chain that unveiled its first Beijing branch at WF Central Mall earlier this year.

However, Esquires (ESQ for short) is no copycat. In fact, even though the brand is new to Beijing and might be unfamiliar to many of the capital’s bean fiends, Esquires has been going strong in New Zealand for years. New Zealand is also the home of the current owners Café Coffee & Bakery Systems who bought the brand from its founders in Vancouver, adding to branches in Ireland, Fiji, North America, among other locales.

The menu also doesn’t resort to parroting, with a few creative standouts like RMB 42 New Zealand honey lattes, RMB 48 white wine drip coffee, and Maytree drip coffee (also RMB 48) on their signature menu. When it comes to hand drip options, the standard Kenyan beans available at most specialty shops are there at RMB 46 per cup, along with a more unique Nicaragua option for RMB 46. Espressos, Americanos, cappuccinos, and the like are also available for between RMB 22-30, not to mention a handful of sweets like Napoleon cake, crispy chocolate mousse, and black cherry cheesecake (all priced at RMB 28).

Don't expect to savor the more niche picks for too long, the New Zealand honey latte coming in a teensy cup, which although disappointing in size made up for with wholesome, slow-to-blossom sweetness and soothing, subtle finish. Such distinctive java options, along with the sleek modern decor, help Esquires become as elegant and refined as its name implies. That being said, a few more specialty items and perhaps some grub would give it the added edge it needs to truly thrive in Beijing's saturated café market.

Read: Despite the Kitsch, Blossom Hill Blooms With Strong Coffee Options

Esquires Coffee (ESQ)
Daily 7am-9pm. 1/F, West 2nd Office Building, Oriental Plaza, 1 East Chang'an Street, Chaoyang District (8515 1289)   
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Photo: Kyle Mullin