Don't talk to me until I've read Capital Caff: Your guide to the latest in coffee happenings around Beijing.
Are those boomers still nagging with their claims that lattes and avocado toast are the only obstacles between millennials and real estate ownership? Because not only is that a gross lie but also, just how much joy do you want to suck out of people’s lives? Café hopping is one of life’s little pleasures! And, hear me out: they’re part of the fabric of a city.
Trendy, cute, minimalistic — whatever their vibes are, they make for some safe ground in a metropolis like ours. Not quite as secluded as your cave, but still cozy and intimate enough that they provide you with a much needed respite from all that hustle and bustle.
So! If you’re looking for both “new” and “quirky” in your next café outing, might I suggest you go get yourself a cuppa at Old World Coffee? It’s never not a lovely stroll down at Beixinqiao, and this café truly is a joy to explore. One tip right off the bat — you may want to go earlier in the day or near the end of the afternoon to avoid the picture-snapping crowds.
In all fairness to said crowds, though, the décor here is a clear lure. Old World is best described as a delightful cornucopia of vintage paraphernalia. Expect a trove of yesteryear’s regional treasures competing to captivate your gaze. Puppets, dolls, cars and tinplate androids, oh my! Rows and rows of darling matrioshka will surely cheer up your heart, as will the angelic cherubs smiling at you from old tin boxes of infant supplements and treats.
Oriental-style fans in the shape of zodiac animals, books, charming furniture and a mishmash of memorabilia — alas, none of these collector items are for sale, although you can purchase robots from a vending machine.
Chinese speakers will also be well advised to scan the QR codes on many a showcase to learn more about these precious items dating back as early as the 1920s (that black iron sheet rocking horse!). What were the usual toys of Chinese kids some six decades ago? What history lessons are awaiting you on the designs on those adorable stationery cases?
What do these objects ultimately teach us about their moment in time beyond their primary purpose? Even if you don’t truly read Chinese, just run the texts through your automated translation tool of choice — this, dear reader, is what will elevate the lovely aesthetics of Old World Coffee to a truly meaningful, unique experience.
Feed your brains, and of course don’t neglect your mortal prison of flesh. See, something that I greatly appreciated about Old World is that they’re serious about their coffee beans just as much as they are about their décor game.
That is, a lot. Yes, their menu does have some whimsical options that they’ve aptly grouped under the label “creative coffee”, if you’re a purist needing a disclaimer. However, they’re still all about solid, honest brews, such as their Single Origin Estate (SOE) Americano or their range of drip coffee, allowing you to choose a blend following your preference.
Again, if you peruse their Chinese menu you’ll learn fun tidbits about your choice of beverage, such as the altitude above sea level that your beans were grown at and the nuances in the flavour of each cup of joe.
Feeling decadent? Honestly, their latte is borderline buttery, or, if you’re feeling a little more adventurous, go for their Mongolian Milk Tea topped with sweet dried beef. Trust me on this — it might make you raise a brow, but it was actually well worth ordering. And if you’re feeling a little more peckish, good news — Old World Coffee gets their pies from local favorite Hutong’r Pie.
All that joy packed inside a quaint, enchanting café. I’ll be sure to go back, perhaps once they’ve also opened their terrace when the temps go up. I might not own a house, but I can at least kick back and enjoy life, and how wonderful is that?
Old World Coffee
68 Luoche Hutong, Dongcheng District
东城区罗车胡同68号
READ: Capital Caff: Starbucks Raises Prices, Drawing Ire of China's Coffee Lovers
Images: Ana Padilla Fornieles, Vincent R. Vinci
"some safe ground in a metropolis like ours." (unquote)
Safe ground? You sure you ain't confusing Beijing with Kiev? I mean, I love coffee even more than yer 14 year old kid brother does his right hand, but "safety" isn't a concept I much associate with my cuppa 'Mericano. Does it, like, conjure away unclean spirits? Gee, Frabarto left that part out of his book.
