[Taipei 台北] Cafe Chamber ♦ 秘氏咖啡 @ Lynda's Taiwan-logue

< Visited in Mar 2017 >

Having acquired a taste for ground roasted beans and slow drip coffee, I found Cafe Chamber 秘氏咖啡 quite by chance from Taiwanese blogs for some serious coffee experience. There are three of them in Taiwan, each with a distinctive theme and coffee brew method - I've been to Tainan's Cafe Chamber 台南秘氏 and hope to make it to the one in Chiayi.

Nestled in a quiet residential estate, a cab ride through small lanes arrived at this spot, recognisable only because I have seen it in blogs. Made a prior reservation via FB PM (highly recommended) in view of the limited seats (not more than 20, including bar counter?) and possible spontaneous rest days. That late afternoon, there were only my gal pal and myself, and a handful of other patrons. Such a blissfully quiet ambience in Taipei, enveloped in a quaint old Shanghainese-style cafe...

<Below> This eyecatching red sofa flanked by two armchairs is the biggest seating here. Even if unoccupied, they look beautiful as a centrepiece in this small cafe.

We had come knowing that the menu is not extensive, thus only for afternoon tea. Check out the menu and bean selection at the counter. You can also sit here to be up close and personal with the brewing action, or just to chat with the owners as they go about preparing beverages. Taiwanese are really hospitable and open to sharing information and views with patrons - even though I was too shy to chat with them, it was still a pleasure listening to their conversation (eavesdropping?!).

<Below> I was asked to choose my coffee by smelling the assortment of beans. The owners bring in different beans periodically.

<Below> There is also a handful of tea if you are not a coffee drinker - hot water refillable for the teabag - as well as a limited selection of desserts.

<Below> My choice of coffee bean - 沙崙玫瑰 ('Rose of Sharon') being prepared very delicately by the lady boss, who looked to be in her 30s, soft spoken and (from eavesdropping her conversation with a young man - sorry, we were seated right beside the bar counter where they were!) rather knowledgeable and passionate about coffee. I kid you not, the precious cup of coffee (NTD280) came extra aromatic and flavourful, with lingering notes on my palate, probably due to the TLC she put into preparing my late afternoon brew. (No sugar, no milk, that's really the recommended and best way to enjoy such beans.)