This post is six months after the event, but still! I visited Taipei (Republic of China, aka Taiwan) for a long weekend last summer. One of the reasons was to visit the La Bella Taiwan roaster shop. Nothing could have prepared me for the excitement to come!
Taipei is just filled with coffee shops. There are at least five big chains (including Starbucks) and many small privately-owned outfits. One chain in particular was a real delight: Barista Coffee. My first double espresso there was oozing with crema and despite the dark roast had a lot of character and sweetness. Admittedly the second shot one hour later paled in comparison.
But it is not just the coffeeshops. There are so many shops selling coffee equipment, from siphons (very popular) to home roasters. One shop was even roasting coffee non-stop in their roaster from Turkey (Hasgaranti I think it was).
La Bella Taiwan is a roaster paradise for the coffee pro-sumer. It is full with shiny metal: espresso machines, roasters (500g to 5kg) and spare parts all over the place.
The Taiwanese love iced-coffee, by the way. Two fresh espresso shots poured in a cup full of ice cubes with lots of syrup. Of course shaken by a machine (they are tech geeks like the Japanese) and always sealed with a hygenic protective plastic film.
I will definitely go back, but then as part of a fully-planned coffee expedition.
And the clubbing scene in the nightlife is perhaps even more exciting. Sorry no pictures of that!