Embrace your little life — grab a coffee at Zhonghe’s Hug Café!

▲ Featured MENU at Hug Café.

Text and photos byMazhi Bear

The bear-hugging-tree design printed on the menu was the reason I wanted to visit. For me, this image instantly brings to mind those nature documentaries on National Geographic or BBC, showing the lives of bears. Whenever I stumble upon such programs while channel surfing, I always end up watching them all the way through.

After moving to Zhonghe, I made a few special trips here, but the café always seemed bustling with activity, which made it hard for me to muster the courage to push open the door. So, I decided to visit on an overcast day when rain seemed imminent, strolling my way here to Hug Café located near Yonghe’s No. 4 Park.

▲ A cozy corner inside the café.

When I pushed open the door, there weren’t many customers yet, so I could choose my favorite seat. I had originally planned to sit at the bar because I didn’t want to take up a two-person table by myself, but after thinking it over, I chose another spot. I feel the seating arrangement suits a lively atmosphere, so sitting alone in such a café actually felt a bit lonely XD

▲ The high bar counter filled with various items.





Since it was almost lunchtime, I opted for the Mexican chicken wrap for lunch. The freshly fried fries had a nice texture, and I really liked the aroma of the honey mustard sauce. I’m not very good at critiquing this kind of food, but at least I could tell the café put a lot of care into making it.


The staff didn’t dare make my coffee (I don’t think I look that intimidating, do I?), insisting they had to wait for the owner to arrive before brewing it.

Today I ordered Blue Batak from Indonesia, brewed using a siphon pot. I didn’t specifically ask about the brewing parameters.

At high temperatures, there was a pronounced herbal flavor, which transitioned into a sweet, creamy tropical fruit taste with a hint of oiliness as the temperature dropped slightly — I really enjoyed the flavor profile at this temperature. Once it cooled down, the taste shifted back to the herbal notes typical of Mandheling beans, quickly giving way to a sweetness that melted in the mouth, leaving a sensation akin to the continuous rumble of deep drums lingering on the palate.

A good Mandheling always carries a deep, resonant vitality that you can distinctly feel from the cup.






【HUG Café】

Address:No. 2, Lane 282, Yongzhen Road, Yonghe District, New Taipei City
Phone:02-2929-1665
Business hours:1:00 PM – 10:30 PM (Monday – Friday)
11:00 AM – 11:00 PM (Saturday, Sunday, and public holidays)
Closed every Tuesday
More great articles by “Mazhi Bear” can be found here:http://bear-oj.blogspot.tw/