Stand up, phone addicts！Cafés are embracing the standing-only trend

Text & Photos / Mr. Naoxin Bear(Mr. Naoxin Bear’s Blog)

My impression of Taipei’s East District is that it’s bustling—as if time moves faster here. The pace of everything seems to accelerate just to keep up with the rhythm of this area.

But even this hectic atmosphere pauses slightly at Yanji Park. Exiting from Taipei Metro’s National Father Memorial Hall Station and walking down the end of Lane 131 on Yanji Street, you’ll find a newly opened café called COFFEE STAND UP nearby.

Two people with experience working in cafés and their own vision for one decided to realize their dream here—Joe and Apple. The space is small, roughly the width of a person with their arms outstretched. Under such constraints, fitting in seating after the counter is no easy feat.

So Joe and Apple incorporated the Japanese standing-café concept. The shop features a long counter where baristas and customers can chat freely—perfect for two chatterboxes like them. Especially in this age of phone-addicted individuals, it also forces others to do something other than hiding in a corner scrolling through their phones.

If you’re someone who loves to chat and make friends, you’ll probably feel right at home here.


I ordered the Blue Lake Mandheling. Though the beans are from the Mandheling region, I didn’t find the typical herbal notes of traditional Mandheling. Instead, the fruitiness was very pronounced.

I also tried the Kenyan sundried coffee. The fresh fruity flavors were striking—it almost reminded me of Ethiopian coffee, though with a medium-full body, possibly due to the processing method or roasting technique. Both coffees shared a bold, rich flavor profile, like Xiao Feng unleashing palm strikes one after another. And the prices? Extremely reasonable.


The café boasts an impressive lineup of espresso machines, including a Robur, a Major, and a twin-hole Linea for espresso, while a small Fuji handles single-origin brews.
 

Though it’s a standing café, Coffee STAND UP isn’t completely heartless—there are a few seats for those who need them. In a corner sits a Bella 500g direct-fire roaster. At first glance, it looks fixed, but upon asking, I learned it’s actually movable. When needed, Joe moves it to the entrance to roast beans.


Impatient friends might have already visited during the soft opening. You’ve probably seen the figure carefully selecting beans by the entrance—he’s Joe. My first impression was of a super-friendly guy whose passion for coffee was evident in conversation. Though he wore an Argentina jersey with “God’s Hand” printed on the back, he’s not actually an Argentina fan.

That figure belongs to the other owner, Apple. Though I didn’t ask specifically, she seems to handle the pour-over coffee—at least the two I had were brewed by her. She’s a thoughtful and attentive server, always noticing customers’ needs and responding quickly. The space may be small, but I believe it has the potential to become a coffee landmark. Time will tell.
 

【COFFEE：STAND UP】

Address:No. 33, Lane 131, Yanji Street, Taipei City
Phone:02-8772-6251
Business Hours:08:00–20:00 (Weekdays); 10:00–20:00 (Weekends)
PS:Business hours may be adjusted during the initial opening period
 
More great articles from “Mr. Naoxin Bear” can be found here:http://bear-oj.blogspot.tw/