Rechill's New Coffee Bar Is One To Impress Pour-Over Highbrows

Over the past few years, Rechill has made a name for itself among the shops of Xinfucun Zhonglu as a one-room cocktail bar that offers creative drinks and a subtle 1920’s-esque atmosphere. But this summer, they’ve expanded from nightlife to daytime sipping with a new coffee menu.

Visitors who’ve heard the bar has transitioned into coffee may be surprised by the lack of an espresso machine on the counter – but rather than a sign of ill-preparedness, its absence is intentional, allowing the barista to focus on carefully prepared pour-overs and other drinks.

Pour-overs have become a popular addition to coffee house menus in this city over recent years, but most shops include them as a novelty while keeping the focus on the more popular espresso drinks. The problem is that, as an (admittedly snobbishly) delicate form of coffee preparation that’s designed to most complex flavors out of the beans, it requires the attention of well-trained staff.

There may only be one barista present at the bar dealing with a packed house, but patience is part of the experience – it’s meant to be the kind of shop that you sit down and enjoy thoughtfully rather than grab to go on your commute. (For a similar experience, we also recommend Coffee Holic in Chaowai Soho, though they do have an espresso machine as well).

It’s also personalized, allowing you to choose your preferred sipping cup from several different styles, but of course, the more important choice is the bean. On the lower price end (RMB ~45) are the common sights: Ethiopian yirgacheffe, Kenyan Kiambu etc. Then there are the Asian options from Indonesia and Yunnan province. But the pricier ones (RMB 75+) from central America, with names like “Orange Chocolate” and “Strawberry Shake” will bring tastes to the forefront where cheaper options leave the drinker searching their tastebuds for the subtleties.

For those who don’t need it fancy, though, don’t worry, you won’t be totally left behind with options like the Café au Lait, an espresso-less answer to the latte, while the caffeine-less can sip on a variety of smoothies. In all, it’s not a coffee bar for anyone in a rush, but any coffee snob who wanders in won’t be disappointed.

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Images: Joey Knotts