A Coffee Lovers Guide - Where To Find the Best Coffee in Shanghai

Sure, you can find a Starbucks on almost any corner of Shanghai but if you’re looking a real cup of coffee, you’re going to need some assistance. Click through for our guide to the best coffee in Shanghai.

Coffee has firmly established itself as one of the world’s truly global beverages, with people across the world electing to start each day with their traditional morning cup of coffee and over 2.2 billion cups being consumed daily.

Traditionally known more for their teas than coffee, China has been somewhat slow to embrace the Western concept of coffee culture. Two decades ago, the only option for anyone looking for a cup of coffee within China was instant coffee. A range of factors have changed this landscape, however, with an increasing expat community in Shanghai and a growing appetite for Western food and drinks translating to a dramatic increase in the number of options for coffee connoisseurs.

Whilst Starbucks and other major coffee chains such as Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf and Costa Coffee have a firmly entrenched position within the Chinese market (Starbucks opened its 1000th store earlier in 2010), there are a multitude of local chains and individual coffee-shop owners providing a wealth of options for satiating your caffeine cravings. Without further ado, we explore some of the best:

Amokka

201 Anfu Road, Xuhui District

With a spacious, airy interior, simple decor and high ceilings Amokka provides an ideal environment to sit back and watch the world go by. The loft-style cafe has a wealth of natural light and a range of Western style food makes it an ideal respite from the daily grind. Open until late each night of the week you can get your fix up until midnight.  

Café del Volcán

80 Yongkang Road, Xuhui District

Named after the rich, volcanic soil of Guatemala, Café del Volcán sources beans from across the globe in their quest to provide the perfect cup of coffee. Beans are roasted in house and allowed the time to develop their maximum flavour either in single origin or a range of skillfully mastered blends. If you like what you tried in house, make sure to pick up a bag of beans to take home with you.

Rumors Coffee

9 HuNan Road, French Concession West

If you are looking for a truly intimate coffee experience, you simply can’t go past Rumors. The cafe seats four along the bar and another four in this tiny shop facing the street. They have a range of exquisite, hand crafted single origin coffees, coupled with extensive tasting notes in both Chinese and English. Don’t come in expecting food though. Whilst there are are a small range of delicate dessert treats available, mastering the art of perfect coffee making is undoubtedly the primary focus of this adorable establishment.

LA Cafe

No 71, Jingan Villas, 1025 Nanjing Xi Lu, Jingan district

Nestled in amongst a host of al fresco cafes in Jingan Villas, LA cafe is a cosy, locally owned cafe that serves up piping hot filter coffee. With a wide range of coffees available from the local Yunnan house blend to Columbian, Guatemalan and Kenyan varieties, there is sure to be something to suit any palette. There is a small courtyard with a shady spot to sip on your beverage, but there is only the one table, so be sure to get in early if you want the much lauded position.

Kommune

Tianzifang, Room 5, Lane 7, 210 Taikang Lu, Huangpu District

Well established in Shanghai and now into its ninth year of trading, Kommune is located in the labyrinthine alley system of Taikang Lu, Shanghai’s arts district. The brainchild of an Australian expat, Kommune operates as a casual cafe by day and during the evenings transforms into a laid back pub and wine bar. The cafe is relatively small with a network of sofas and rickety wooden benches to perch your food on and has free Wi-Fi for any guests. By far the best reason to stop by is their large coffee, which is seriously large. Think of it as a soup bowl full of some of the best coffee the city has to offer.

Farine

378 Wukang Rd, Xuhui District

There are few simple pleasures that compare to a enjoying a freshly brewed cup of coffee and biting into a crisp, freshly baked bread roll. You’re sure to smell Farine before you enter as this artisanal French bakery produce all their hand made breads and pastries on site using flour imported from France.

As with anything in life, you get what you pay for and Farine is far from an inexpensive option, but if you’re looking to tuck into a freshly made Croque Monsieur or arguably the best croissants in Shanghai whilst sipping on a freshly made espresso, Farine is undoubtedly the place you need to get yourself to.

Sumerian

415 Shanxi Bei Lu, Jig’an District

A true oasis for legitimate coffee geeks, walking into Sumerian you’ll be greeted by a row of  decorative Japanese siphons which drip filter a range of delicious coffees. All the beans are roasted in-house by owned David Seminsky, who makes his own distinctive blends in order to make the perfect cuppa.

Weekly coffee classes are offered on Saturday afternoons from midday until 2pm where students can learn how to understand the differences in coffee taste profiles, origins and blending theory and technique.

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