2017 Year in Review: Get Buzzed at These Top 5 New Beijing Cafés

Beijingers could hardly throw a rock – or better yet flick a coffee bean – without hitting a new artisan café in 2017. A few too many emphasized elegant atmospheres, or worse still faux homey ambiances, over java, and yet there will still plenty of strong new entries with exotic beans and creative vibes. Below, we've listed our top five favorites in chronological order of opening date.
 

Soloist Sanlitun
The year got off to a hot start as Soloist (arguably Beijing's most popular and highly regarded artisan java purveyor) opened a new branch in Taikooli. Though it retained some atmospheric elements from its elder Dashiliar location, this new branch tones down its previous steampunk elements for a broader retro vibe. When it comes to the coffee, we recommend the RMB 55 Ethiopia Yirgacheffe Idido dry process, which was low on acidity and featured a rich and hearty aroma and flavor.
 

Silence Coffee
This year, Silence Coffee offered an oasis of luxurious quiet from bustling Beijing mornings, especially welcome when feeling undercaffeinated but overstimulated by noise. A chalkboard inside the café asks patrons to minimize their chatter, both as a relief from the loud and crowded streets of Beijing, but also as a stab at publicity for the hearing impaired. As we mentioned in our review, "Despite being deaf since childhood, co-proprietor Jackie is a wonderful host, creating gorgeous and delicious coffee concoctions." Silence also sells pastries alongside their pretty standard coffee selection, but it's the socially conscious atmosphere that's the true draw.
 

Big Small Coffee (Jingshan Park)
Big Small went large this past August, opening a second branch with at least double the floor space just south of its original, cozy Xiang'er Hutong location. A long bar makes the newer location work well for late-night boozing as well as midday coffee breaks, which will be fueled by various imported beans and standard lattes and Americanos, along with a selection of teas that owner Zhang Yipeng transports back to China from his travels around the world.
 

Cup One
Opening in the basement of Pacific Century Place this past fall, Cup One not only lured patrons with its coffee but also its refreshing juices, vegetable-stuffed wraps, and other light, healthy eats. The ambiance also proved to be a considerable attribute, as we noted at the time: "Thanks to the minimalist decor (no tacky flowers or fake shabby-chic Western furniture), the clean-cut light gray and white elements puts off the energy of a brand-new, spick-and-span, ultra-chic café."
 

Maeda Coffee
Though 2017 proved to be a lively year of café openings, Maeda all but blew the other competition off the map with its Beijing debut. As the first branch of the 46-year-old Japanese chain to open outside of Japan, we were impressed by its Kyoto-style desserts, its antique iron kettles, and of course its artisanal brews. Upon trying that coffee, we were wowed by its "well-balanced ... hint of roasted flavor, and a rich palate that had no semblance of sourness." Indeed, Maeda's time-honored brewing tradition got its start in Kyoto in 1971, the same year that Starbucks was founded in Seattle, and makes a for a nice treat as compared to yet another run to that far more ubiquitous American brand.

To read about all the cafés we visited this year, click here.

More stories by this author here.
Email: kylemullin@truerun.com
Twitter: @MulKyle
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Photos: Jeremiah Jenne, Soloist, Big Small, Dianping