Introduction:During the Mid-Autumn Festival in 2024, after Typhoon Bebinca — the strongest storm to hit Shanghai in 75 years — wreaked havoc, the first choice for citizens venturing out in the rain was surprisingly the local café. This article takes you straight to the streets of Shanghai in the wake of the typhoon, from independent shops to chain brands, showing how the city quickly resumed its coffee routine after the storm. Plus, some practical observations: which brands reopened first? And what interesting behaviors did consumers display?

During the 2024 Mid-Autumn holiday, the powerful Typhoon Bebinca made landfall along the coast of Lingang New Town in Pudong, marking the strongest typhoon to hit Shanghai since 1949. On September 15, the Shanghai Flood Control Headquarters issued a safety alert, urging residents to stay indoors unless absolutely necessary and to prepare for the typhoon.

Faced with what was dubbed a "baby plus" level of wind and rain, residents urgently carried out preventive measures before the typhoon arrived. After a fierce onslaught, by the afternoon, the wind and rain gradually subsided, with some areas turning overcast. But the streets were littered with broken branches, fallen leaves, and even uprooted greenery, as cleanup crews worked to restore order.

Usually, after a typhoon, people tend to stay at home and consume pre-prepared food. However, the situation is quite different in coffee-obsessed Shanghai. Those with a coffee machine or pour over setup might temporarily satisfy their cravings; but for those without such equipment, the urge is to get to a café as soon as possible for a freshly ground cup.

As the rain let up and with the holiday in full swing, many Shanghai residents couldn’t wait to step outside — slipping on slippers, grabbing umbrellas, bringing their pets along — heading to nearby cafés to order that much-craved freshly brewed coffee.Both independent shops and chain brands were quickly flooded with customers, with long queues forming non-stop.

Café owners seemed to be in sync with their patrons — even though light rain still fell, they arrived early to roll up the shutters, pre-brew espressos, and wait for their regulars.

Beyond the difficulty of getting a seat in independent cafés, chain brands were equally sought after. Some Manner outlets saw lines of customers bringing their own cups; one Luckin customer, needing to use the restroom urgently, caused the store to register 43 backlogged orders; while at M Stand, a “chosen one” staff member single-handedly held the fort, taking orders and making coffee while battling the storm.

Some people, so desperate for coffee and unable to get deliveries, even braved strong winds to drive to Starbucks. These actions fully demonstrate Shanghai’s dedication and love for coffee.

If you ask on social media, “What are you doing after the typhoon?” the most common answers from Shanghainese are “I’m having coffee” or “I’m going to get coffee.” The city’s reliance on coffee has long been woven into daily life — unshaken by wind or rain.

The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.