Good Coffee

Posted by CharlesK (956 days ago)

Hi,

Does anyone happen to know where you can get a good cup of coffee in HK. I'm based in the mid-levels, just after moving from Melbourne where yes, I became addicted to good coffee and now I'm a coffee snob. I drink in Pacific Coffee, Starbucks out of necessity rather than pleasure. Any ideas?

Charlie

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Posted by Pumpkin (956 days ago)

I'm a real espresso snob and the best one I have found is honestly a little cake shop near the market in Central called Sweet Secrets.

Posted by Ed (956 days ago)

SG Ed says The Jockey in Happy Valley does great coffee - bit out of the way for you though...

http://hongkong.asiaxpat.com/deals/supermondays.asp

Posted by loisl (955 days ago)

Life in Soho do nice organic coffee, just opposite pure fitness. Roof top is the best place to chill out on a Sunday afternoon.

Posted by nivshk (955 days ago)

Try Zambra in Wanchai. The best I've had in HK so far!

Posted by Topol (948 days ago)

Agree with nivshk, Zambra have great coffee and try to recreate a coffee-shop atmosphere. Also try Uncle Russ (near the bottom of the Peak Tram) has v.good coffee.

Posted by Topol (948 days ago)

Agree with nivshk, Zambra have great coffee and try to recreate a coffee-shop atmosphere. Also try Uncle Russ (near the bottom of the Peak Tram) has v.good coffee.

Posted by homer (948 days ago)

Try Gaia near Grand Millenium Plaza on Queen's Road, end of the escalator. Strong and nice coffee and you can seat outside.

Posted by BlueM&M (947 days ago)

Cova - there is one in Lee Gardens in Causeway Bay and Harbour City in TST...also has a great tea/cofee set too!

Posted by donkey1 (947 days ago)

Cova's coffee is very consistent and always has a layer of creama on the top. Zambra is also nice. Life makes good Mocha. I still can't find a place that can make nice rich flat white though.

Posted by A me (946 days ago)

Uncle Russ is also at outlying island ferry pier near IFC. You can try Kaffa Coffee on Staunton's. Guess its new. The ambience seems very relaxing and romantic... though never gone in and tried! :-) Yep, Cova is good and have yum really chocolatey cakes.

Posted by tooo (906 days ago)

I like the coffee at The Flying Pan.. It is good and you get free refills. In their new one in Wan Chai they have sofas to relax on with very chill music

Posted by Simple Simon (905 days ago)

Grand Hyatt

Posted by Topol (904 days ago)

Where exactly is new The Flying Pan in Wanchai?

Posted by Lei Ah (901 days ago)

hey guys, if you've never tried UCC's coffee, you are not an authentic coffee snob yet! Try their unique "sumeyaki coffee",a X.O. of coffee!

Posted by talllatte (900 days ago)

Lei Ah you are kidding right?

Posted by sharpey (898 days ago)

UCC coffee is really good, definitely worth to try!

Posted by Outdoors (898 days ago)

UCC always tastes overcooked/burnt to me.

Gaia uses illy coffee and do a good job. And i totally agree with the Zambra recommendations... good coffee, good food. (i think it's owned by either an Aussie or Kiwi guy)

Posted by carmine (888 days ago)

So what is wrong with Starbucks and PC coffee??
They taste fine to me....

Posted by Burgundy (888 days ago)

For coffee to make at home (rather than take away), we love the Graeco-Egyptian coffee shop in Central. Also some of the cheapest premium coffee beans around. I recommend their expresso, particularly. The manager has been roasting the coffee himself for decades. He speaks enough English and will grind the beans for you if you wish. 24 Old Bailey St (which is at the upper end of that street, near Caine Road).

Posted by Pumpkin (888 days ago)

heh I just get my Mum in Italy to mail me my favourite espresso - Cafe Kimbo...so much better than Illy (which is rare to find in S. Italy - made for the foreign market methinks).

Posted by Sashimi Girl (885 days ago)

charlie, to address your original question, in 5 years, i've never found a decent coffee anywhere in asia!!! i know what you're missing in oz. i've learnt to settle for pacific coffee and starbucks. :(

Posted by talllatte (869 days ago)

Sashimi girl> I sort of sympathise with your thoughts, but HK is just like the US or Oz. 99.9% of places serve junk and there are the 0.1% that do a decent job. Don't ask me to name names!

Posted by cathy13 (863 days ago)

Cova best of chains, but there's also a coffee place in IFC right above mcdonalds that does great coffees....
All else failing, buy a good coffee machine (gaggia), good beans and a grinder then make your own!

Posted by cia (854 days ago)

Just been to Kafa in Wanchai. They claim to have Ethiopian coffee as their "characteristic" (I think they meant "specialty". The ambience seem nice from the street but service is lousy. We ordered 3 coffees, 2 iced chocolate, 3 cheesecakes and tea at 8:45 pm. They asked us to come to the counter 5 times for all those. plus came to our table to apologize that they forgot to tell us that they close at 9pm but will allow us to stay until 915pm. The funny thing is, they also forgot one of the 3 coffees I ordered. Also, they started sweeping and moppng the floor. I really wanted to give them a piece of my mind but my husband talked me out of it.

Posted by nougabollen (843 days ago)

I gave up on coffee in HK a loooonngggggg time ago. Believe me, after a while, tea is as addictive as coffee. I can get pretty nasty if i don't get my cup of white tea in the morning before work.

Posted by hea (843 days ago)

defnitely cova or illy coffee at star street wanchai

Posted by dave_lister (842 days ago)

I think Pacific Coffee is great. Good coffee, comfortable and great atmosphere. Glad to see they are holding their own against the corporate imperialism of Starbucks.

Posted by Barrista (840 days ago)

Dear Charlie...Melbourne coffee has ruined you and if you are staying in HK then you have no other option than to take control of your addiction and buy yourself a serious machine AND grinder and have your favourite coffee beans sent over from melbourne...expensive but satisfying!

Posted by talllatte (827 days ago)

I agree even an el cheapo machine like a gaggia will give you a better quality drink that a lot of coffee shops in HK. Providing you have fresh beans, a grinder and some knowledge.

I noticed sunday post mag will feature "expensive" coffee makers this week, hmm let's see how much work she did.

Posted by lorem ipsum (827 days ago)

Well... I have a Rocky + Sylvia, and am wondering where to get fresh beans? Currently using Oliver's but given Green Mountain (and taste!) don't think they're fresh.

Posted by lorem ipsum (813 days ago)

Anyone?? Anyone? Please? Fresh coffee beans in HK?

Posted by Carmen K (810 days ago)

lorem ipsum - Olympia Graeco Egyptian Coffee, 24 Old Bailey Street Ground Floor tel 2522 4653 - they sell unroasted/roasted beans. Can also grind it for you.

Posted by Burgundy (810 days ago)

Yes, Graeco Egyptian coffee as posted by Carmen K, above. Best in HK by a mile (especially their expresso blend). Also one of the cheapest.

Posted by lorem ipsum (810 days ago)

Thanks guys - much appreciated.

Posted by loflora (768 days ago)

Please don't settle for Starbucks or Pacific Coffee! I only go there out of convenience.

While agree that Cova serves coffee of consistent quality, I vote for a relatively small establishment in TST for best coffee in town : "The First Cup" on Prat Avenue, TST. I often take trips to TST just for a sip there.

Posted by lorem ipsum (765 days ago)

Have been buying from Graeco Egyption for a month now, and very happy - espresso blend is excellent. Beans are very oily though and sometimes block the grinder (thanks in part also to humidity).

Posted by pomme1 (756 days ago)

If you are in mid levels, try Cafe O - Arbuthnot rd, they are generally much better than Pacific & Starbucks - food is a thousand times better too!

Posted by uncle joe (755 days ago)

I used to live very close to Graeco-Egypt, and I could smell the roasting of the beans.....wow !
then I bought some beans from the old crow who works there....and it was okay, but nothing special. maybe I got the wrong beans. it wasn't like there was any sort of choice.

I tried the square pizza at Cafe O. nice, even if I had to wait ages. Slowwww....

Posted by pacificpalms (744 days ago)

Langham Hotel Mongkok - has Illy and they make a great flat white. When you need a fix island side try MIX - Oz guys in IFC Hopewell etc

Posted by Jigglypuff (743 days ago)

I just noticed Charles K posted 213 days ago. Wonder if he could tell us where he gets his coffee from now?
I won't pay the prices Starbucks and Pac Coffee charge.
Uncle Russ sold good coffee at a reasonable price, but now they're only in DB under different management, so I don't know what it's like anymore.