We should be frank – Call Coffee isn’t your conventional cafe. It’s not located on a street corner and doesn’t host an open seating area like most would expect. Instead, the shop consists of a loft apartment on the 16th floor of a luxury residential building on Haile Lu. Founded by Yu Xiaoran (‘Yumi’ for short) – a 30-something who quit her ‘iron rice bowl’ job with the state to become a wedding planner – the cozy space is intended to entertain clients and provide unparalleled service in a nation still struggling to grasp what that entails.
Even if you’re not a bride-to-be, Yumi welcomes you to stop in for a distinguished brew made from beans selected after months of taste testing by her and her barista boyfriend. We start with a regular latte (RMB22-25) before trying one made with soy at the couple’s recommendation. Vigorous and dark on the palate, the espresso concludes with a touch of natural sweetness – proof of the quality of the beans and balance of the assortment.
In the living room, leather sofas face a dramatic two-story window softened with sage curtains. As Yumi retreats to the kitchen to mix us another intriguing beverage – sparkling cactus juice – we turn our attention to the series of ultra-creative, DIY wedding guides stacked underneath the glass coffee table. Yumi prides herself on handcrafting every detail of a wedding banquet, fashion show or birthday party, and has already designed receptions in Bali and Thailand since taking up the new vocation this year.Upstairs, two private rooms are available for guests to hold creative meetings or casual get-togethers. Yumi asks visitors to call ahead if they require a room, but spontaneous drop-ins for a cup of cranberry tea (RMB18-21) or caramel macchiato (RMB25-28) are also welcome.
After mixing a few secret ingredients in a cocktail shaker, Yumi hands us a glass of her popular cactus soda water (RMB22-25) garnished with handmade chrysanthemum-filled ice cubes. Exquisite as the presentation is, the taste is even better. Crafted with condensed cactus juice and homemade sparkling water, the chilled drink is brilliantly refreshing and not too sweet.
As its name suggests, Call Coffee also delivers espresso beverages for local parties of more than 10. Simply ping Yumi on WeChat and let her know your order an hour ahead – it’s online-to-offline caffeine at its best.
Price: RMB30
Who’s going: Brides-to-be, baristas on break
Good for: Coffee on call, fizzy cactus juice
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