It’s no secret that some of the best coffee shops and cocktail bars here in Guangzhou are largely hidden to the naked eye – exposed only through word of mouth or an in-the-know friend – and Signless Coffee (无牌咖啡) is no exception.
Contrary to what its name suggests, it does have a sign (the font of which resembles something out of Diagon Alley), and a colorful splash of graffiti on the wall opposite its entrance. Take Exit A from Gongyuanqian Metro Station, cross the street, enter an alleyway marked ‘南朝新街,’ turn right and walk until you see it on the left.
Housed in a stand-alone abode, the two-story shop features a spacious first floor and a kitchen for roasting coffee beans on the upper level. Feel free to wander in and watch the process or just inhale the heavenly scent of freshly roasted beans.
Baristas will ask your preference for coffee and show you a collection of jars holding a dozen kinds of beans from Columbia, Kenya, Panama and more. Some are flowery and taste almost like red tea, others register thick and chocolatey. If you’re with a friend, share a couple pour-overs (RMB20-25) without milk or sugar first to compare different flavors and, if you can’t bear the bitterness, ask for a latte (RMB20) with the bean variety you like best.
As with most coffee shops in China, arriving right at opening (11am in this case) will grant you an hour or two of privacy, as business usually picks up after 2pm. Having come on an empty stomach, we were a little disappointed to find the shop only had cupcakes (RMB38), which, although painstakingly handmade every night and undeniably delicious, weren’t exactly suitable for breakfast. Apparently other edibles will be available soon, and we’re told matcha cakes are in stock now, two for RMB35.
When we visited, the menu was only in Chinese and written by hand on coffee filters, but that will likely change by the time this review is published.
Go for the adventure of finding the place and to taste the house roasted beans, which are also available to purchase (RMB90-200 per 230-gram bag).
Price: RMB20
Who’s going: in-the-know coffee enthusiasts, photographers
Good for: comparing coffee beans, pour-overs
See listing for Signless Coffee
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