Basic Coffee Brings Freshly Ground Quality Beans to the CBD Area
Beijing's Central Business District, with its bland sky scrapers and swaths of chain outlets, is by no means the first place that springs to mind when one ponders where to purchase a delicious, piping hot cup of joe. However, the newly opened Jianwai Soho café Basic Coffee does just that, standing out prominently from the Starbucks and Costa Coffees on every corner in the neighborhood.
Basic serves several delicious quality bean options from the enticingly acidic Kenyan (RMB 28), to a silky smooth Yingacheffe (RMB 28), as well as a soothing Geisha. All together, Basic boasts a huge 100 types of beans from 45 countries, which should be more than enough variety to keep the morning caffeine-and-briefcase fiends in check.
The café also has several tempting dessert options, like seasonally-appropriate Christmas cupcakes (RMB 39) made with white sponge, gooey and green tree-shaped icing on top, and a heavy dusting of coconut flakes that will melt in your mouth.
Another thing that sets the café apart is its decor and atmosphere. As we entered via the spiral staircase, we were struck by the café's circular interior, the cute-yet-stark bland and white mural etchings on its far wall, and the massive roaster displayed prominently near the entryway. That friendly and welcoming vibe is extended to the café's roaster class, due to start in January, for which patrons can book slots to learn how to roast their coffee like a pro. The finished beans are then stored on-site so that you can invite your friends to try your pick-me-up whenever the time calls.
Together these elements help Basic belie its name, and ensure that CBD coffee fiends will continually come for worldly bean options and a friendly, cozy spot to sip on those exotic blends.
Basic Coffee
Daily 8.30am-10pm. 3/F, Jianwai Soho Bldg 9, Chaoyang District (135 2158 1243)
朝阳区建外SOHO东区9号别墅西南角三层
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Email: kylemullin@truerun.com
Twitter: @MulKyle
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Photos courtesy of Basic Coffee
