Wake Up & Coffee: A New Cafe for Lovers of Bold Beans and Dynamic Design
Beiluoguxiang has undergone something of a renaissance over the last two months with new spots sprouting up at a rapid pace. The latest to join the fold is Wake Up & Coffee, a cafe, bar, and gallery that opened last month on the south end of the street. With exposed wood beams in the ceiling, a wall that appears to have been haphazardly smashed in so that the seating area could be connected with the barista counter, and a fresh coat of white paint, Wake Up & Coffee straddles the line between traditional hutong, distressed warehouse, and modern art space. 
The coffee menu – which starts with seasonal beans sourced from all over the world and single-origin espresso – is rather extensive and includes a number of options you won’t find at many other shops nearby such as the Dirty (RMB 40), a shot of espresso that sits atop a thick layer of condensed milk which is supposed to be consumed in big gulps so that the hot, bitter coffee and cold, sweet milk hit the throat simultaneously. There’s also the Special Plum Coffee (RMB 48), a refreshing cup of coffee mixed with a light liquor infused with homemade plums. Aside from coffee, the shop also has a full liquor selection, cocktail menu, and three Jing-A brews on tap.
It’s not all caffeine and booze though. Wake Up & Coffee is also committed to creating a beautiful design experience to match the delicious beverage one, a continuation of owner Wang Wenting’s past career as an advertising creative director. “I am addicted to the design and art of the last century, especially the 60s and 70s, which were full of creativity and defined modern design,” says Wang. “I want to introduce the different personalities of coffee brands and cultures worldwide, but I also want to create a coffee lifestyle,” adding, “wake up in the morning and drink a good coffee with a well-designed cup. New coffee, new day, old things, it’s a mix and balance.”
That 60s and 70s aesthetic is currently on display in the shop, in the form of saucers and cups inspired by retro Nordic and German design houses, and created by Wang herself. The show, Old But New, is part gallery, part antique shop, and entirely pleasant to look at.
So what’s next for Wake Up & Coffee?
“We will introduce a coffee roasting brand from Finland called Good Life,” Wang tells the Beijinger. “It’s a very cool brand and we want to make a pop-up crossover for Good Life and a photography exhibition called Avoid Bad Life,” which also happens to be the coffee roaster’s slogan.
On the larger goals of the shop, Wang explains, “We want to create a culture and attitude of drinking a better cup of coffee and living with creativity. We’re just getting started.”
Wake Up & Coffee
10am-7pm (Tuesday-Friday), 10am-11pm (Saturday & Sunday). North Luogu Alley No. 93, Dongcheng.
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Images: Drew Pittock, courtesy of Wake Up & Coffee
