As a boy growing up in Papua New Guinea, Alex Chow spent the bulk of his childhood sifting through coffee beans at his family’s wholesale business, never imagining he would one day open a shop of his own.
Today, Chow is the proud proprietor of Wantok, a cafe that is bringing the agreeable tastes of premium coffee – and especially beans grown in Papua New Guinea – to Guangzhou.
Pristine and eye-catching, the white, wood-framed cafe sits on Tianhe Nan Yi Lu, right across the street from Parc Central, making it convenient but also cozy, set away from the commotion of the mall.
On its chalkboard menus, a selection of filtered, cold brew and espresso-based varieties like mocha and cappuccino greet patrons. Handmade and cold brew coffees sell at RMB40 while prices of other caffeinated drinks differ by size: a 4-ounce espresso is RMB18; a 12-ounce mocha is RMB25. Teas (RMB20), fresh juice (RMB30), milkshakes (RMB32) and smoothies (RMB32) have also been scribbled in powdery white.
The house specialty is premium filtered Papua New Guinea coffee. Try Wantok’s P.N.G peaberry Kimel (RMB40), which is mild tasting with buttery notes and a clean aftertaste. Pair it with the New York cheesecake (RMB28) garnished with Cape gooseberries, which owes its impeccable taste from an experienced baker who supplies all of Wantok’s pastries and cakes.
The undoubted brain behind this small operation is the man working behind the counter and preparing your coffee: Chow. After moving to Australia, his passion led him to work in a number of different cafes where he learned the ins and outs of the barista trade and became an expert on premium coffees. Now, he’s looking to turn Wantok into a haven for some of the best coffees on earth, and plans to bring in a wider selection of beans in the near future.
If you’re in the area, drop by, grab a seat outside and see what’s new and brewing at Chow’s little coffee shop.
Price: RMB60
Who’s going: discerning caffeine addicts
Good for: premium filtered coffee, a leisurely break from Tiyu Xi Lu
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