Café
Fika Fika Cafe
James Chen's Nordic-inspired coffee bar on Yitong Street, known for its Capulypuly house blend and drip coffee; Chen won the 2013 Nordic Roaster Competition.
Simple Kaffa Flagship
The Huashan flagship of Simple Kaffa, the speciality coffee company founded by 2016 World Barista Champion Wu Tse-lin.
At a glance
- Type
- Specialty coffee
- Area
- Zhongzheng, Taipei, Taiwan
- Price
- $$ · Mid-range
- Opening
- Open daily · 10:00–17:00
- Official site
- simplekaffa.com
Good to know
- Specialty coffee
- Open daily
- Sister cafe on Taipei 101 88F
Why we recommend it
Simple Kaffa is one of the best-known names in Taipei's speciality coffee scene, thanks largely to its founder, Wu Tse-lin, who won the World Barista Championship in 2016. The company has since grown into a small family of cafes and kiosks across Taiwan, but the Huashan flagship remains the place to start if you want to taste what made its reputation. It is a destination for anyone who takes coffee seriously, and a calm place to recharge during a day of sightseeing.
The focus is on the coffee itself. If you are new to speciality coffee, ask the baristas which beans they are serving and how they are brewed, and try a cup black before adding milk so you can taste the character of the beans. Coffee competitions reward precision, and that attention to detail is the reason people seek out a champion's cafe rather than a chain.
The company also runs a striking sister cafe, Simple Kaffa Sola, on the 88th floor of Taipei 101, which opened in January 2023 and was billed as Taiwan's tallest coffee shop. Its signature drinks include coffee cocktails that featured in Wu's championship routine, such as Sunset, which combines light-roast washed Ethiopian coffee with oolong tea, rum and brandy. Online booking was required when it launched, so check the official site before heading up if you want to combine coffee with views.
According to the company's shop list, the Huashan flagship is open every day from 10:00 to 17:00, while the Sola branch opens from 10:00 to 20:00. The flagship can be busy at weekends, particularly in the early afternoon, so a weekday morning is the best time for a relaxed cup. Expect to pay speciality-coffee prices. Allow 30 minutes to an hour. It suits solo travellers, couples and coffee enthusiasts more than large groups.
The address published by the company is on Section 2 of Zhongxiao East Road in the Zhongzheng District, in a central location that is easy to reach by MRT or taxi. It makes a good pause between sights in the Zhongzheng District, such as the National Taiwan Museum and the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall. For general enquiries, the company lists an email address on its website.
Simple Kaffa Flagship FAQs
Who founded Simple Kaffa?
Wu Tse-lin, who won the World Barista Championship in 2016.
What are the flagship's opening hours?
The company's shop list gives 10:00 to 17:00 daily for the Huashan flagship.
Is there a Simple Kaffa in Taipei 101?
Yes, Simple Kaffa Sola is on the 88th floor of Taipei 101 and opens from 10:00 to 20:00.
What should you order?
Try a filter coffee or espresso to taste the beans, or a signature drink; at Sola, the Sunset coffee cocktail is a highlight.
Do you need to book?
Not usually at the flagship, but Sola required online booking when it opened, so check before visiting.
Is it expensive?
Prices are in line with other speciality coffee shops in the city.
When is it least busy?
Weekday mornings are generally the quietest time.
How can you contact Simple Kaffa?
By phone on +886 2 3322 1888 or by email at [email protected].