Higher Grounds

When every street corner seems to be dominated by a coffee chain, it gets to feeling like there’s very little choice for our caffeine fix. But hidden away in alleys and tucked into corridors you’ll find some of Hong Kong’s finest little coffee shops. The espresso is equal to that found in cafes around Europe and some of them even have the the baristas to match.

First Cup
You could be forgiven for walking straight by First Cup, thinking it was just another Tsim Sha Tsui bar. But while First Cup, perched on the corner of Prat Avenue and Chatham Road South, is indeed a bar come nightfall, from 7am until the evening it’s a laid-back coffee spot offering 100 percent Jamaican Blue Mountain beans as well as varieties from Kenya, Guatemala, Brazil, Tanzania and Sumatra. As rare as the unblended Jamaican bean may be, what’s even rarer is owner Mark Schmidt’s hospitality. Schmidt shares his barrista know-how with new customers, faithful regulars, the nearby office workers and his “freaky night-time clientele.” They obviously appreciate it; the store has been open for over ten years. And while the coffee is clearly the star of the show, First Cup also serves up all-day breakfasts, pizzas, paninis, sandwiches and pastries imported from Italy.
45-51 Chatham Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui, 2316-7793.

Crema Coffee
Tucked away across an alley from the back entrance of the Regal Hotel, Crema Coffee is the epitome of the hidden gem. It is one of the few coffee shops in the city which imports their coffee beans (Malabar Gold) unroasted, and then roasts in-house, resting them afterwards for four to six days before grinding them into the signature house blend. Malabar Gold was picked especially to suit Hong Kong tastes: a low level of sourness, smooth, sweet and strong but drinkable. As if that level of detail wasn’t enough, owners Fiona and Terry, who learned the famously difficult “latte art” in Italy, have brought their skills to Hong Kong, creating painstakingly hand-drawn pictures on the foam of every latte they serve. Pastries such as muffins, croissant, rolls and scones are also baked daily and priced reasonably at $10.
67 Mody Rd., Tsim Sha Tsui, 2369-0338.

Café Little
One of the only places in Hong Kong to use a Victoria Arduino manual espresso-maker for commercial purposes, Café Little proves that perfection is really in the detail. What exactly is the difference between manual and automatic coffee makers? One difference, according to owner Doris Cheu, is that she’s able to see from the very first drips whether the coffee will comply with her high standards. If it doesn’t, she and her staff throw it out and start over. Not only is the quality of the bean important, the skill of the barista is also key. The water level, temperature of the cup and amount of milk are just a few of the many factors that Doris monitors closely. The result is a compact cup of caffeine heaven. She recommends the Costa Rican bean for beginners, and the Ethiopian for regular drinkers. The food is homemade, with the sandwiches and pasta dishes simple enough to complement rather than overwhelm the coffee.
105-107 Wing Lok St., Sheung Wan, 9139-7762.

Graze
Most things in Graze are custom-made. Opened by design company Fluid, everything from the walls to the lighting scheme to the location have been carefully considered. The coffee beans are specially blended in Kwun Tong, and hand chosen by general manager Jimmy Lam. The house blend contains a high-quality Brazilian bean as a base, a Columbian bean for a punch and a secret top-note bean for its rich caramel flavor. The second floor of the coffee shop is decorated to look like a cozy attic, complete with magazines and comfy couches. It also provides exhibition space for local artists in order to encourage the area’s burgeoning art scene. The food is pure comfort, made daily with mostly organic ingredients. Salads, meat pies, pastas and their signature cupcakes are all on offer.
143-145 Bonham Strand, Sheung Wan, 2850-7766.

Café Corridor
Café Corridor is hidden in the middle of the onslaught of people that is Causeway Bay, at the end of a mosaic-lined corridor between two shops. And why do we care? It was opened by Felix Wong, a man who’s worked as a consultant for independent cafes all around town, including Graze (above). The beans are supplied by Coffee Assembly, a company that roasts their own beans daily in Kowloon. They have four blends available, ranging from full-bodied and chocolatey, to light and sparkling. The atmosphere is cosy and friendly, with the likes of Britney and Rihanna playing unobtrusively in the background. Nice and quiet in the afternoon, the café transforms seamlessly into a bustling salon after dinner. The walls and corridors are adorned with the artwork of local painters, who are allowed to use the space for free.
26A Russell St., Causeway Bay, 2893-2927.