Introduction:Blue Bottle Coffee opened its first store in Shanghai in a century-old Western-style building in Jing'an District, drawing a seven-hour-long queue on its opening day. This brand renowned for its pour over coffee chose to set up shop in a historic 1926 building, blending a minimalist menu with vintage architectural aesthetics. This article takes you through its distinctive flavors, spatial design, and why it's worth the wait for those in line.
Blue Bottle Coffee’s first outlet in Shanghai officially launched by the Suzhou River in Jing'an District, situated in a historic 1926 building — formerly the premium staff dormitory of Yutong Flour Mill, which is also one of the first batch of immovable cultural relics designated by Shanghai. On the day of its opening, a long queue formed outside the store. According to customers on-site, some waited as long as seven hours just to get in, highlighting the high level of public interest.
This American-origin coffee chain is famed for its pour over coffee and has a preference for locating its stores in historically rich old buildings. Unlike the diverse offerings of typical coffee chains, Blue Bottle Coffee features a relatively streamlined menu, though it still provides some items that are harder to find elsewhere, such asGibraltar,Drip Coffee Au Lait, as well as the New Orleans-flavoredNew Orleans Iced. For non-coffee beverages, only two types of sparkling water, oolong matcha, and hot chocolate are available.
As for the quality of its pour over coffee, although I have not yet tried the version from the Shanghai store, its performance at branches in Hong Kong and Japan has been consistently stable and excellent. Based on on-site observations and past experience, Blue Bottle Coffee emphasizes purity and consistency in its pour over preparation, avoiding flashy techniques and instead focusing on bean characteristics and water temperature control, allowing the true essence of the coffee to shine through. The baristas work attentively, the atmosphere is quiet, and customers generally are willing to wait patiently for a meticulously brewed cup.
Choosing an old building as its location is a consistent hallmark of Blue Bottle Coffee, and this opening is no exception. The two-story Western-style house chosen for its first Shanghai store not only has a deep historical background but also showcases a blend of Chinese and Western architectural styles. The structure is made of brick and wood, with the exterior mainly finished in fair-faced red bricks, while parts use reinforced concrete, presenting a unique sense of the era.
The interior design is divided across two floors, each with its own distinct character. The first floor adopts a modern style dominated by white tones, complemented by stainless steel, glass, and concrete materials, creating a clean and bright space. Large floor-to-ceiling windows paired with smaller scattered ones, together with highly reflective stainless steel counters and furniture, allow ample natural light during the day. Nearby display cases showcase branded merchandise for customers to easily browse and purchase.
Stepping into the second floor, you’re greeted by a completely different retro ambiance. The overall palette is based on natural wood tones, and the bar counter is uniquely crafted from reclaimed old door and window frames sourced locally in Shanghai, preserving the natural grain and traces of time on the wood. Notably, there is a60-year-old FAEMA espresso machineon display, one of the few surviving models from that era worldwide, holding considerable collectible and exhibition value. The seating area is equally varied, featuring chairs and sofas in leather, fabric, and rattan, evoking a nostalgic atmosphere reminiscent of an old Shanghai household.
According to feedback from customers on-site, although the store only opens at 8:30 AM, many arrived early in the morning to queue. Some revealed they didn’t manage to get in until around 3:30 PM, waiting up to seven hours. Additionally, some observed scalpers offering purchasing services, with the original 32 RMB Americano being resold for over 120 RMB.
Even more amusingly, among those queuing for Blue Bottle Coffee, some opted to order Starbucks delivery coffee instead, creating an interesting contrast. Many netizens commented that Blue Bottle Coffee is neither limited in supply nor requires such urgency, especially given that the pandemic is not entirely over. They advise everyone to consume rationally and avoid unnecessary crowding and risks.
The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.
