A Countryside Café in Miaoli – OLULU Coffee’s Freshly Roasted Beans

Text & Photos /MIKA

Guanli in Yuanli Township, Miaoli, is actually a very simple and unassuming place. It’s not very well-known, but it boasts abundant natural resources. Its most famous produce is rice – the beautiful mountains, clear waters, and high-quality rice have always been a source of pride for the locals. I grew up here, and most people in the area are farmers. As kids from the countryside, we literally grew up rolling around in the fields. The location is actually quite convenient, close to Sanyi and Taichung County, and not far from the Yuanli Interchange. I’ve always thought this place could develop tourism resources – it just needed someone with vision to come along. Finally… someone opened the first café here (teary-eyed), I’m so moved~ Such a low-key gem hidden in the fields definitely deserves a big recommendation.

OLuLu Coffee is tucked away in a quiet alley in the countryside, so understated and hidden that it’s not easy for outsiders to find unless they spot the detailed signboard. This spot used to be where my uncle lived as a kid, and it’s filled with his childhood memories.

The exterior features a calm iron-gray color paired with an industrial-style design, making it a low-key yet distinctive café.

OLuLu Coffee has a large yard outside perfect for letting kids play.

There aren’t many seating spots inside, but fortunately, there are seats on the second floor.

The interior also follows an industrial style, but with warm wooden decorations that soften the otherwise rugged look.

.
The menu is boldly written on a board – just take a look yourself.

They focus mainly on Italian and single-origin coffee, with simple side dishes like pancakes and desserts.

The minimalist interior design has coffee-related products displayed in a charmingly chaotic order.

The wall features a drawing of a coffee roasting machine design.

The staircase design is also quite ingenious.

The irregularly shaped wooden cabinets in the stairwell display the owner’s collections.

There were too many people upstairs, so I didn’t take many photos – just one quick shot for reference. There aren’t many seats either, perhaps to maintain a certain sense of space, so they didn’t add too many.

Through the wire mesh, you can see the staff bustling about.

Single-origin light roast
Guatemala Hope Coffee 150 NTD
I don’t know much about coffee – I couldn’t even drink it before, XD. It’s only in the past two years that I’ve started to learn about coffee and how to taste it, to get familiar with it. As a total beginner in the coffee world, I really don’t have the credentials to judge coffee quality, but I can tell if it tastes good. The Guatemala Hope Coffee is fragrant, mellow, smooth, and has a faint fruity aftertaste.

For a coffee newbie like me, the flavor of single-origin light roast is mellow and smooth – it suits me perfectly.

Hot Fruit Tea 100 NTD
I heard it’s a special blend, though I didn’t try it. According to my uncle, it’s really delicious.

Black Sugar Latte 130 NTD
My younger brother ordered the black sugar latte. It has a layered flavor – starting with the rich aroma of creamy milk, followed by a subtle hint of black sugar, and then a bold, smooth coffee taste.

Mixed Berry Pancakes 180 NTD
I haven’t had flower-patterned pancakes in ages. This one is more decorative, but not as substantial inside – the texture is a bit crisp. It’s the best-looking of the bunch. I love berries, so seeing blueberry jam and blueberry ice cream on top of the pancake instantly earned it extra points in my heart.

You can tell the blueberry jam is homemade by the shop – it has a fresh, tangy flavor that’s completely different from store-bought versions. It’s not overly sweetened with artificial sugar, and you can really taste the freshness and deliciousness. I love their blueberry jam, that natural tangy-sweet taste is unforgettable. The berry ice cream is also amazing. I think it must not be cheap, because the berries inside are natural and hearty, not just flavored with syrups. It’s delicious because of the genuine berry aroma. The crispy outside and fluffy inside of the pancake, with butter and blueberry jam, plus a bit of berry ice cream all in one bite – the unique sweet-tartness of the berries, paired with cool ice cream and smooth butter, is simply delightful.

It turns out that the main branch of Jien Coffee is in Dajia, and the OLuLu Coffee in Yuanli Guanli is actually their roasting facility and café.

The prices here aren’t expensive at all. This countryside-hidden café offers expertly home-roasted coffee and sincerely made pancakes with quality ingredients – definitely worth the price.

Attached is my business card for your reference.

I’d like to share and recommend this hidden gem of a self-roasting coffee shop, OLuLu, nestled in the countryside. I believe great cafes never stay undiscovered—welcome to enjoy coffee with me in the fields near my hometown!! Please note that it’s currently open only on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

OLULU Coffee
Address: No. 180-1, Shangguan, Shangguan Li, 9th Neighborhood, Yuanli Township, Miaoli County
Phone: 037-743831
Business Hours: Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM
FB: https://www.facebook.com/JustGoCoffee
Website: http://coffee.justgotw.com/
 

"Traveling is about returning to where you came from with deeper understanding."
— MIKA’s Travel & Food Journal