A locally roasted coffee shop in Tainan  —  the owner was once a judge at Taiwan's Barista Championship

Text and photos by /Sean

One day, while waiting at a traffic light on my way home from Yunong Road, I spotted this place called MING OU Specialty Coffee. When I got home, I briefly checked their Facebook page, didn’t detect any red flags, so I added it to my mental list of places to visit when the time was right. Several months later, the opportunity finally came. The shops in the Yungnong Road area are generally not very large, and MING OU Coffee is no exception. Coupled with my camera lens not being wide enough, the photos came out looking even more cramped.

The owner has served as a sensory judge at the TBC (Taiwan Barista Championship) for two consecutive terms. It’s clear that he takes his sensory training very seriously.

The shop also sells beer.

● ETtoday News Cloud reminds you: Minors should not drink alcohol, and do not drink and drive.

The owner even managed to get all the proper glassware for Trappist beers — pretty impressive.

Menu

As a locally roasted coffee shop, they naturally sell roasted beans. You can check the prices in the photos.

More uniquely, they also sell homemade bread, but production is limited, so you need to reserve in advance. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to try any when I visited.

Lately, I’ve mostly been drinking espresso and cappuccino 1+1 combos, but after chatting with the owner, he gave me an extra shot, so I hit my daily caffeine limit right there at MING OU.

The medium-roast espresso had a sweet finish.

The owner said the blend was designed for cappuccinos, and indeed, it worked really well — great milk integration and a distinctly sweet profile, which should appeal to most customers.

I’d say MING OU Coffee is one of those hidden gems. Overall, the coffee flavor is great, but with so many shops nearby, it’s easy to overlook. I suggest going with the address handy. You might think it’s easy to find since it’s on the main road... but sometimes you just miss it. Also, note that they’re closed on Sundays — don’t make a wasted trip.

MING OU Specialty Coffee FB

Business hours: 12:30 - 20:00
(Closed on Sundays; irregular hours will be announced on FB)
Phone: 06 200 5469
Address: No. 687, Yungnong Road, East District, Tainan City

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