Diner’s DiaryHK$60 coffees in gritty Shek Tong Tsui? Gentrification’s in overdrive

If proof of Shek Tong Tsui’s hipster takeover were needed, look no further than the HK$60-a-glass, cold-brewed, single-origin, gourmet coffee at Artisan Room. The coffee arrives at your table in a bottle on a copper tray - specially made, like the glasses, by a craftsman in Guangzhou.

SEE ALSO: There goes the neighbourhood: hipster takeover in sleepy Shek Tong Tsui

The latest trendy addition to what until recently was a gritty corner of Western district is an airy space behind Hotel Jen that’s bathed in sunshine, with high ceilings and a Margaret Chu mural on the wall.

We were recently invited to try some of Artisan Room’s drinks, savouries and sweets. Fans of gourmet coffee will definitely enjoy the experience. The single-origin coffee is supplied by Costadoro Coffee, a Turin company with over 100 years’ history. The selection changes every week to ensure freshness. For sweeteners, there is a choice of coconut or Okinawa brown sugar.

The coffee is cold-brewed in a slow-drip Dutch-made machine called the Gothicism. Artisan Room is the first place in Hong Kong to have one. Water for your coffee is cooled by ice cubes, then drips slowly over the coffee grounds, before being decanted. The process takes hours. The coffee is cooled overnight, and comes with tasting notes (since the coffee taste has notes of good whisky, I’m told

If you don’t drink coffee, there’s a selection of tea from French brand LØV Organic Tea, or an Okinawa brown sugar latte (HK$38 for a tall) that is basically steamed milk with a sprinkling of the brown sugar for a slightly sweet taste.

There are also bottled organic fruit juices from Spain, and sparkling non-alcoholic ones, like elderflower from Italy.