https://nz.trip.com/moments/detail/taipei-360-133575759?locale=en-NZ
Po HungTaiwan, China
levelIconBeginner traveler

Coffee ceremony under pure white symbols: %ARABICA Taipei Xiangshan Store

An urban experiment on minimalism and hustle and bustle When the pure white coffee philosophy of Kyoto Arashiyama collides with the red brick alleys of Taipei Xiangshan - %ARABICA Xiangshan store, with a micro space of 10 ping, has set off a coffee craze across cultures. This is not just a battlefield for a cup of latte, but also a microcosm of the confrontation between symbolic economy, local integration and international trends. Spatial paradox: the collision of pure white aesthetics and urban fireworks Japanese minimalism in the red brick wall %ARABICA's iconic pure white gene is cleverly implanted with Taiwanese elements in the Xiangshan store: Austrian architect Chris Precht connects the white main body with the local red brick wall, and the dry landscape and glass curtain cut out a theater of flowing light and shadow. In the 10 ping space, the roaster and the raw bean display area occupy the visual C position, echoing the one-stop philosophy of "from origin to cup" - the beans from Hawaii's own estate, paired with Japan's top Tornado King roaster, have become a pilgrimage altar for coffee believers. The spatial revolution of takeawayism Different from the viewing seats in the Kyoto store, the Xiangshan store completely embraces the "takeaway gene": there is only a row of benches by the window, no tables or sockets, and the customer flow is forced to be converted into mobile food for climbers. This design hides business wisdom: close to the entrance of the Xiangshan trail, the transparent cup with the "%" symbol is in the same frame with the Taipei 101 skyline, making it the ultimate check-in ritual in the IG era. Taste judgment: Kyoto condensed milk sweetness vs. Taiwan local tongue The sweet trap of Kyoto latte The signature "Kyoto Latte" is based on Ethiopian Yirgacheffe, with a trace of condensed milk added to enhance the flavor. The bright floral and fruity aroma, the sweetness of condensed milk wraps the tip of the tongue like silk, but it also attracts polarized evaluations: those who love sweets praise it as "soul salvation", and those who love black coffee directly point out that it "covers the original taste of the beans." The sweeter **Spanish Latte** is jokingly called "Ant Man Exclusive", and the proportion of condensed milk is high enough to challenge the sweetness of Taiwan's hand-cranked coffee. The test of faith in Matcha Latte "Matcha Latte" uses Japanese sugar-free matcha powder, which is only supported by the sweetness of milk. The hot version has delicate latte art, but the concentration of matcha is as light as mist, and the iced version is even complained to be "like drinking green milk"; it is recommended to add 20 yuan to change to oat milk, which has a thick texture to support the tea flavor. Hidden options for the original flavor of coffee The secret code of insiders is "single-origin latte": beans from a single production area in Central America are used, and the fruit acidity is bright and the mellowness is better than the formula beans. If you want to directly confront the essence of coffee, you might as well try Espresso concentrate to explode a storm of nuts and caramel on the tongue, and the remaining aftertaste is as long as dark chocolate. Symbolic economics: From coffee cups to canvas shoes, faith exchange The magic consumption of peripheral products The store is like a holy temple of "% symbol worship": Transparent umbrella: can display % logo in sunny and rainy days, becoming the standard for Internet beauties to climb mountains Canvas shoes: % logo embroidered on the tongue, controversial price is still sold out Manual grinder: the ultimate collection of coffee lovers, ritual sense crushes practicality These peripherals are designed in a global unified way to strengthen brand recognition, allowing consumers to wear "coffee experience" as an identity label-as the founder Dong Hai Link Fan said: "% is not just a symbol, it is a branch where two coffee beans coexist." Localization problem: the struggle between international brands and Taiwanese stomachs Cultural friction of pricing strategy Latte starts at 155 yuan (8oz), compared with the average price of Taipei boutique coffee of 120-140 yuan, the premium of 15% has caused heated discussion. Supporters recognize "international brand + location cost"; opponents criticize: "Milk is the main attraction, it is better to drink convenience store boutique latte." A cup of coffee, two kinds of pilgrimage If you pursue "ritual sense is more important than taste" Holding the % logo cup in the pure white space, the red brick wall behind you reflects the green of Xiangshan Mountain. The Kyoto fantasy at this moment is worth 175 yuan; but if you are a **"coffee fundamentalist"**, the light roasted fruit acid and condensed milk sweetness here may not satisfy the heavy taste belief of the dark roasted faction. When walking out of the store, the coffee cup in hand tilted down along the fifth section of Xinyi Road - the taste of this cup of hybrid coffee is just like a metaphor of contemporary Taipei: we look for belonging in international symbols and anchor ourselves in the local context. When the barista put down the latte art cup, the % symbol on the white milk foam gradually dissipated - it turns out that the most charming thing is never the drink itself, but the minimalist belief that makes global travelers willing to stop for it. #TaipeiCoffee #TaipeiItinerary #WhiteHealing
View original text
󰴉In your selected region or language, selecting this Trip Moment's hashtags won't redirect you to the hashtag page
*This content is provided by our partner and translated by AI
Posted: Jul 5, 2025
Po Hung
1 person liked this
Submit
1
Mentioned in this post
Attraction

Xiang Mountain

4.8/5199 reviews | Mountain climbing
Taipei
No.7 of Night Attractions in Taiwan
Details
Show more
Related Trip Moments
Xiang Mountain

Taipei|One-day Park Tour Guide

湯馬士火車頭
Xiang Mountain

Taipei|A One-Day Guide to Elephant Mountain

湯馬士火車頭
Taipei Palace Museum

48 hours in Taipei

Kenneth2025
Xiang Mountain

Taipei Day Trip: Daan Forest Park, Taipei 101 and Elephant Mountain 🌳🏙️

湯馬士火車頭
Xiang Mountain

Taiwan Day - 3 | A Day of Exploring Taipei's Must-Visit Spots

蓝鲸
Xiang Mountain

Xiangshan: Taipei City Scenic Spot, Taiwan Travel

larcsky_journey
Yehliu Geopark

Taipei

여행 떠나는 청년
Xiang Mountain

🏞️ Taipei Elephant Mountain|A green secret in the city, with a great view overlooking Taipei 101

歐郎瑞旅遊日記
Xiang Mountain

The Best View Of Taipei, Elephant Mountain! Free and convenient ( it’s a must do)

Jamie Daniel Ali
Xiang Mountain

Xiangshan Six Rocks

aestraveler
Xiang Mountain

Xiangshan Six Rocks

KrisAdventure_19
Xiang Mountain

Recommended photo spots in Taipei 101, Taiwan 💛

알주