Introduction:Blue Bottle Coffee has opened its third mainland China store in Zhangyuan, Jing’an District, blending the architectural aesthetics of Shikumen with locally inspired creative desserts, and launching its signature scallion oil waffle and the debut Honey Sea Salt Latte. This article delves into the design highlights of the new store, the exclusive coffee blend recipe, and the best ways to enjoy this East-meets-West flavor combination.
Blue Bottle Coffee continues to expand its presence in mainland China, with its third outlet located in Shanghai’s Jing’an District at Zhangyuan, creating an immersive space infused with elements of Shikumen architecture. Nestled within this historic garden, the new store not only upholds the brand’s commitment to revitalizing old buildings, but also showcases the ingenuity of Shanghai-style culture through limited-edition desserts and specialty drinks.
Stepping into the Zhangyuan store, weathered red brick walls and wooden lattice window frames form a nostalgic visual focal point, while the outdoor alleyway space is cleverly transformed into a relaxation area.The Oji retro cold drip brewer placed at the center of the bar counterhas become a popular photo spot. Handcrafted by Japanese artisans from copper, this drip brewer extracts a rich and layered cold drip coffee.
Making its debut at this location isthe “Scallion Oil Waffle” dessert,which innovatively combines Chinese scallion pancakes with Western-style waffle grids. The exterior is crispy while the interior remains elastic, with a strong scallion aroma that is never greasy.The best way to enjoy itis to pair it with the store’s cold brew coffee—this contrast of hot and cold highlights the distinct fragrance of the scallion oil. Some customers also recommend drizzling it with the Honey Sea Salt Latte, where the interplay of sweet and salty adds further depth.
The store’s exclusive blend uses beans sourced from three regions:30% premium Robusta for a bold body,，40% Ethiopian Yirgacheffe contributing citrus and blueberry notes,，and 30% Latin American beans lending a dark chocolate finish.This blend is recommended to be medium-light roasted (Agtron around #65), using a V60 dripper with a 1:15 coffee-to-water ratio, brewed at 93°C to achieve the optimal balance.
In addition to its core offerings, the Zhangyuan store also introduces a series of handwoven merchandise, including tote bags and cup sleeves featuring traditional bamboo weaving textures. The debut dessert,Date Paste Caramel Cake,is based on oriental health ingredients, with a crispy tart shell encasing a delicate date paste filling. Paired with the slightly bitter Mandheling coffee, it highlights the rich aroma of dates.
Brand representatives revealed that the choice of Zhangyuan was influenced by its historical status as the “Number One Garden by the Sea.” The overall design specifically preserves the building’s original structure, presenting an old Shanghai alleyway vibe through partial restoration.Business hours are from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM daily.It is advised to avoid weekend morning peak hours for a better shopping experience.
Observing Blue Bottle Coffee’s development strategy in China—from choosing the non-core commercial district site of Qianyutong Flour Mill for its first store, to gradually entering prime locations such as Jing’an Kerry Center—it reflects the brand’s determination to deepen its market presence. Compared to the long queues upon its initial entry into China, consumer habits have now matured, with appointments and off-peak consumption becoming the norm.
The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.
