Traditional Chinese medicine cabinets turned coffee cup shelves? Debut Café presents diverse creativity

Text & photos byUncle Coffee

The naming of Debut Café Taipei indicates there are at least two Debut Cafés. In addition to the original flagship store near the Keelung District Court, there was also the "Far Far Away Elementary School" branch in the Ali Mountain Art Zone in Shimen District, New Taipei City—a collaboration with a ceramic artist that became extremely popular, often fully booked on weekends. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, and after this partnership ended, the café relocated to downtown Taipei to continue serving everyone.

An old wooden door with its surface scraped off to reveal the grain, paired with delicate iron flower door handles.


The MENU appears in three-dimensional typeface: Debut Café.


This is the kind of MENU that would make washi tape enthusiasts smile knowingly.

The owner of Debut Café, Mr. LIN HUGO, holds Q Grader certification as a cupping specialist. With prestigious training, he previously worked at a Japanese-style self-roasting coffee shop. Several of his peers have also started their own businesses and now run specialty roasteries—resulting in consistently refined and nuanced single-origin coffee flavors.


Certified by the SCAA (Specialty Coffee Association of America), ensuring expert control over coffee flavor profiles.


Indonesian natural-process Wahana, showcasing captivating ripe fruit aromas when lightly roasted.


Coffee is the soul, the cup is the body—both are equally important.
 

Astoria semi-automatic espresso machine.

But step into Debut Café Taipei on Xinxing North Road, and you’ll first be wowed by the massive beer wall—featuring over 150 varieties of Belgian beer lined up for customers to choose from. It’s simply too tempting; you’ll definitely want to plan a beer party here with friends someday and drink to your heart’s content.


More is more—this time, it’s beer—beer!!

Thanks to direct cooperation with importers, prices are very reasonable, making it suitable for both dine-in and takeaway.

Corresponding to the Belgian beer wall are large hanging scrolls featuring comic-style illustrations of every Debut Café staff member, depicting scenes of roasting beans or brewing coffee—all created by master artist Ruan Guangmin. Uncle had never seen such a presentation style in a café before; it’s truly unique.


Hand-brewed coffee, artwork by Teacher Ruan Guangmin.


Coffee latte art, artwork by Teacher Ruan Guangmin.


A man focused on roasting beans is the coolest—Debut Café’s Boss HUGO.

The café space is quite spacious, conveniently located midway between the Guanghua Electronics Market and the Songjiang Nanjing MRT station—an ideal quiet spot in a bustling area. Debut Café Taipei ingeniously repurposes traditional Chinese medicine cabinet shelves as cup and plate racks behind the bar, replaces bookshelves with wine racks, and even turns military cots into bookshelves—breathing new life into old furniture in delightfully clever ways.

Unlike typical cafés, Debut Café has transplanted the Japanese-style seating from its Shimen branch, which many girls love for chatting with friends in a more private atmosphere.

A brief introduction for now—we’ll report back after you’ve tried a round of Belgian beers (laughs).










Collecting vintage electric fans has been a hobby of Debut Café owner HUGO for years.


[Debut Café Taipei]

Address:No. 15, Section 1, Xinxing North Road, Zhongshan District, Taipei City
Phone:(02) 2541-7279
Business hours:10:00–22:00 (Open every day)
(Navigation can be tricky; please enter from Lane 16 of Songjiang Road and walk all the way to the end)

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