Sanlitun Coffee Hunt: Ranking Iced Lattes for Summer
Why should you let a couple of 16-year-old girls tell you where to get your next iced latté? Is it because we have an eye for packaging and interior ambiance? Or is it because we are growing up in a world that requires caffeine to get through a typical International Baccalaureate school day?
The answer to both of those is yes.
Because we wouldn’t waste our valuable youth (and limited allowances) on bad coffee, you shouldn’t waste your adulthood on it either. We took an entire afternoon to set out and find the best iced latté in the Sanlitun area. For the record, we were seeking Oat Milk lattes, and we decided to avoid the big chains. So, without further ado, here are four gems in the Sanlitun area, reviewed and ranked to make your life that much easier:
4. STILL COFFEE - RMB 24
Still Coffee offers a delightful escape from the busy streets of Sanlitun This quaint independent shop, located south of Sanlitun welcomes customers from 9am to 7pm, inviting them to indulge in a unique coffee experience.
Flavor: 5/10
Notes: Although tasty, this latté doesn’t have a very strong coffee taste. However, the milk also isn’t overpowering, making this a nice icy drink for the summer that won’t necessarily get you hopped up on caffeine ... but this is not exactly what we’re looking for in a coffee.
Presentation: 8/10
Notes: There’s a very cute sticker for this independent coffee shop's branding. On top of that, the cozy for the cup is unique with its clear ribbed plastic design. If you’re looking for something that’s pleasing to the eye, this latté is definitely the way to go.
Shop Atmosphere: 7/10
Notes: A very cozy and small shop, there’s a counter straight off the street to order, and a separate area to wait for your drink with colorful pastel pillows and decorations. The only downside is that an extended sit down in this area could cause some intense fatigue from the heat, as it’s an indoor-outdoor type of arrangement. This independent shop caters more to social media gurus in search of captivating backdrops over exceptional coffee.
TOTAL SCORE: 20
Still Coffee 还是咖啡 (Sanlitun branch)
1F, Bldg 6, Baijiazhuang Xili Community, Chaoyang District
朝阳区白家庄西里社区6号楼1层
Hours: Mon-Fri, 8.30am-7pm; Sat-Sun, 8.30am-8.30pm
Contact: 176 0034 0721
3. Black Plums Coffee - RMB 35
Flavor: 7/10
Notes: When searching for your every day, generally agreeable latté, Black Plums is the place to go. No outstanding flavor, but still an obvious commitment to quality. The drink wasn’t diluted, nor was it overpowered by milk, so overall achieved a nice balance.
Presentation: 8/10
Notes: Presentation is another forte of Black Plums Coffee. Each order is served to you tableside, on a tray with a napkin and a straw, showcasing attention to detail. The branding is minimalistic yet eye-catching, a simple logo of a deep purple plum is on each cup, adding a touch of sophistication to the overall aesthetic.
Shop Atmosphere 6/10
Notes: Upon entering, the minimalist decor immediately catches the eye, with its clean white walls and accents of lavender purple on the seats. The seating options range from intimate two-person tables to communal spaces, catering to both solitary moments and lively gatherings. Thanks to the soothing lighting and well-regulated air conditioning, the shop makes it ideal for hot Beijing summers.
TOTAL SCORE: 21
Black Plums Coffee (Sanlitun branch)
10A, 1 Nan Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区南三里屯路1号1层底墒临街10A铺面
Hours: Daily, 8.30am-8.30pm
Contact: 185 1449 3897
2. Ralph’s Coffee - RMB 44
Flavor: 8/10
Notes: With an excellent balance between milk and coffee, there’s no denying that Ralph’s serves a great latté. The slightly earthy flavor of the beans makes it that much more enjoyable, topping off an expertly crafted coffee.
Presentation: 5/10
Notes: If you’re looking for a cup to admire, Ralph’s might not be the pick you’re looking for. A very basic design, the only notable element is the branded cozy which is admittedly a little ill-fitting on the cup. As far as the potential goes, we think this latté falls a little short in the aesthetics sector.
Shop Atmosphere: 9/10
Notes: Encapsulating the quintessential New York coffee shop vibe, Ralph’s does an exceptional job of creating ambiance within the walls of bustling Sanlitun Taikooli. Indoor and outdoor seating makes it the place to be for people watching or a one-on-one chat, whichever one sparks your interest. Yes, it can get a little crowded inside with the booth seats, but overall, we commend this café for its commitment to style.
TOTAL SCORE: 22
Ralph's Coffee (Sanlitun Taikooli branch)
S6-10A, 1F, Sanlitun Taikooli South, 19 Sanlitun Lu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区三里屯路19号三里屯太古里南区1层S6-10A室
Hours: Daily, 10am-10pm
Contact: 010 6415 5600
1. Grid Coffee - RMB 28
Flavor: 9/10
Notes: Coming at number one for our pick of your next latté, Grid Coffee does everything right. A smooth taste with every sip whilst not discounting an excellent coffee flavor makes this refreshing, brightening, and delicious.
Presentation: 7/10
Notes: Another simple yet effective presentation of the coffee, minimalistic branding and an olive-green straw complement each other to emphasize the laid-back aesthetic of the brand.
Shop Atmosphere: 8/10
Notes: Taking a seat in the outdoor pop-up location of Grid Coffee is the perfect break from a long day of shopping around Sanlitun. Comfortable seating in the shade lets you almost forget about the burdening Beijing summer heat, and it’s overall a very pleasant experience.
TOTAL SCORE: 24
Grid Coffee (Sanlitun Taikooli branch)
1F, Sanlitun Taikooli South, Gongti Beilu (across from Moose Knuckles), Chaoyang District
朝阳区工人体育场北路三里屯太古里南区1层
Hours: Daily, 8am-9pm
Contact: 178 0163 9842
To be honest, it would be hard to go wrong with any of these choices, but if you have time for just one, we’d recommend Grid Coffee. And there are dozens more for coffee lovers to explore in Sanlitun -- we strongly encourage you to go out and not only try these, but to keep on searching, because you never know around which corner you’ll find the next hidden gem.
About the Writers:
Hana AlNajem and Violet Proctor are 10th grade students from the Western Academy of Beijing (WAB) currently interning at True Run Media (the parent company of the Beijinger) through WAB's World of Work program.
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Images: Hana AlNajem, Violet Proctor
