Like an oasis in the city — an industrial-style café near commercial buildings

Text & Photos / Taipei. Coffee Stroll: 50+ Stylish Cafés

The spacious interior with few supporting beams features ochre-toned exposed brick walls, deliberately visible metal piping, and furniture shelves hand-welded from wooden planks and galvanized pipes. Aged vintage lighting casts a warm yellow glow, creating this distinctive industrial-chic space.
Most people’s impression of Section 3, Minsheng East Road, is of bustling office workers and a forest of commercial high-rises. This makes Joco Latte, nestled within Xing’an Public Housing, feel like an oasis.

Industrial style becomes a hotspot for photoshoots
Who would think to design a café in an industrial style? Owner Sam explains that the entire space was designed by his sister and brother-in-law, both architects. After much discussion, they felt the industrial vibe best matched Sam’s background—having studied engineering and spent long hours in labs. So, they gave the place a complete makeover. During the renovation, while supervising the work, Sam passed the time by welding galvanized pipes into various pieces of furniture. “After this project, I might as well switch careers!” he was jokingly told by the workers. Now, this industrial yet tactile café space has become a favorite photoshoot spot for online models due to its unique atmosphere.

When hot chocolate meets milk popsicles
In a café named after chocolate, it’s no surprise that chocolate drinks are the star attraction. Chocolate enthusiast Sam is passionate about tasting chocolates from different countries and estates. He melts blocks of chocolate and mixes them with milk to create beverages, listing each chocolate’s origin, cocoa percentage, and flavor profile (bitterness and sweetness) just like specialty coffee. Each drink comes with a piece of the original chocolate used, so you can taste its pure flavor. For iced drinks, the café even serves a whole pot of melted chocolate alongside milk popsicles, letting guests participate in the final “pouring” step.

 

As for the essential coffee offerings, including single-origin beans roasted light, medium, or dark Italian-style blends, all are roasted in-house at Joco Latte. Sam, who has been involved in coffee-related clubs since his school days, has gone through nearly every stage of roasting equipment evolution—from early skillet roasting and popcorn machines to basic roasters. Nowadays, he personally roasts beans regularly to ensure consistent quality. The café also offers a variety of healthy snacks and desserts, making it a great spot to hang out.
At Joco Latte, whether you’re savoring exquisite estate-grade chocolate or enjoying a cup of house-roasted single-origin coffee, the most important thing is to relax and enjoy the space. If you’re feeling peckish, there are also simple light meals and desserts available—welcome to spend the whole day here.

Joco Latte
Address: No. 4, Lane 88, Section 3, Minsheng East Road, Taipei City
Phone: (02) 2501-8809
Hours: 10:30 AM – 9:00 PM; Closed on Mondays