Hong Kong's best coffee... in 石硤尾?

Golden Cafe, Shek Kip Mei

Price: 54HKD (for 2 coffees)
Dined at: late afternoon
Wait time: 0 minutes
Rating: 8/10I

I know, I know, expecting good coffee anywhere in Asia is a bit of a long shot.
Or is it?

Coffee culture is coming to Asia, and its coming in quicker than the guy at starbucks saying 'one iced-green-tea-mocha-frappacino-latte-with-low-fat-cream-and-soy-milk'. Japan has been exploring good coffee for years (not to mention trying new things like Siphon and cold pressing). I had a really fantastic coffee in Zhongshan, Taipei, only the other week... and from an Agnes B cafe. As a former barista who used to compete on a state level back home, I tend to be a bit picky.

So surely its time for Hong Kong to grow up and get some real cafes with baristas who actually know what they're doing, right? Well, Golden Cafe seems to be two steps ahead of me there.

After a recommendation from a coffee loving expat to go here, I made the trek out to Shek Kip Mei of all places. Actually, its only walking distance from my place, but unless you live near Sham Shui Po or Kowloon Tong, it's a bit far to go just for a coffee, especially considering that there isn't anything else to do in Shek Kip Mei.



I had a latte (sorry, no photo), and a cappuccino. Both were excellent. Served at a perfect temprature (I like mine a bit hotter) with a smooth and velvety micro foam. The latte was served in a ceramic cup like the cappucino (use glasses for lattes, damn it!), and the cappucino didn't come with any chocolate on top (by definition it should), but I didn't care. I was too much in love.

My first real coffee in weeks, and it was excellent. Oh boy, they'll be seeing a lot of me in the future. 


2012/09/05