Pu’er Coffee

 “Almost” is a word that carries a familiar life attitude in Chinese culture. It reflects a way of thinking rooted in balance—a practical philosophy for living. Not too much, not too little. Go with the flow. Stay tolerant of imperfection. Avoid the exhaustion that comes from obsessive precision. I think this is the state many young people today are trying to explore—or hoping to become. “Almost” is no longer the numbed indifference produced by social conditioning; instead, it has become a resilient survival strategy for ordinary people navigating life with limited resources. I don’t know whether the café I’m talking about today consciously embraces this philosophy, but the moment you read its name, you feel a sense of release—like pressure quietly lifting off your chest. As Little Snake Gary once said, “My family doesn’t expect me to shoulder all the responsibility, because I don’t have shoulders!” Located at 540 Wener West Road in Hangzhou’s Xihu District, Almost Relax Café giv...

 “ The flicker of the traffic lights at the crossroads feels like a message never delivered. Watching neon, watching the crowd— at this moment, every brake light becomes a slow heartbeat. And those who wait tap lightly with their toes, guarding a small flame inside them that never goes out… ” It’s been a long time since I last explored a café in the city. Thanks to a friend, the main purpose today was simply to catch up after not seeing each other for ages. So we headed to Dengdeng , located at 132 Zhongshan Middle Road, Hangzhou , to drink the coffee he made for me—a different kind of experience altogether. In recent years, café-hopping has changed me the most. It feels as though my life has gradually woven itself together with these visits. The emotional projection isn’t just about caring more about the stories behind the owners—their struggles, joys, setbacks, and perseverance. It’s also because, as my life moves toward a slower pace, my state of mind pays more attention...

  Before opening my shop, I always thought the most crucial factors were how good the coffee tasted, the quality of the equipment, and whether the location was prime real estate. But after observing the industry for several years—from booming spots to struggling ones, from newcomers to veterans—I've come to a counter-intuitive conclusion: The most important thing for a coffee shop's survival isn't the coffee itself, but whether it has its own "reason for being." Because once you actually open a shop, you'll realize that coffee is just the entry point. What truly affects a shop's destiny is its purpose, its consistency, its memorability, and how you interact with your customers. Let's break down this "most important thing" below. 01 Why Do You Want to Open a Coffee Shop? More Important Than the Menu Most people think the first step to opening a shop is choosing a location. But it's not. It's "why you want to open this particular s...