Nǐ hǎo!
Yī bēi kāfēi
ee bay KA-fay
One cup of coffee
Měishì kāfēi
may-shih KA-fay
Drip/American-style coffee
Nǎi tě
nye TEH
Milk tea (for the famous bubble tea!)
Mǎidān
my-DAHN
The bill, please
Pour-over coffee — Taiwan's specialty cafes excel at precise hand-drip technique. Often showcasing local Taiwan-grown beans.
Standard espresso, often pulled by world-championship-level baristas.
Espresso with steamed milk. Taiwanese latte art is exceptional.
Widely available and very popular in Taiwan's subtropical climate.
Taiwan actually grows its own coffee in the central mountain regions (Alishan, Gukeng). Small-lot, expensive, and sought-after.
Taiwan has produced multiple World Barista Championship finalists and winners. The country punches far above its weight in global coffee.
Many Taipei cafes double as design studios or galleries — the aesthetic is extraordinary.
Taiwan grows its own coffee in the central mountains (Alishan, Gukeng) — it's rare and expensive but worth trying.
Bubble tea (boba) culture coexists with coffee culture. Many cafes serve both.
Cafes are popular study and work spots — lingering for hours with a laptop is perfectly acceptable.
Card payment is common but smaller, independent cafes may prefer cash.
Not expected. A 10% service charge is sometimes included at upscale cafes.
NT$120-200 ($3.80-6.30) for specialty coffee
Did you know? Berg Wu of Taipei's Simple Kaffa won the 2016 World Barista Championship, making Taiwan one of the smallest countries to ever claim the title.