【Sunday Slow Time】Grinding Time Café, Where Photographers Meet in This Moment and Place

The business cards read “cafe & photography,” clearly expressing the image and spirit that Grinding Time Café pursues. The two young owners both have the surname Chen and were junior high school classmates. They left their previous careers in different industries to come together, hoping to fulfill a small dream before turning 40.

 

The owner said that life in Taichung is slow, and cafés have room to thrive. To express his ideas and highlight the theme of the space, he has collected many antique cameras over time—some still functional, others old models that require film and now serve purely as decorations. In addition, photographic works and posters are displayed in various corners. No matter where you look, you’ll spot camera lenses, Polaroids, film, and other photography-related items, all reinforcing the café’s central theme. This has also resonated with many fellow photography enthusiasts among the customers, sparking exchanges about photography tips and topics.

The oversized lens mounted on the pillar in front of the shop is the most eye-catching entrance feature. The edges of the lens are inscribed with the shop’s name and business hours in tiny white letters—a creative touch. As the owner points out, if you look closely at the pathway at your feet, you’ll notice it’s a terrazzo floor designed in the shape of a film strip. The small English words beneath the sign, “Since This Moment,” reflect the shop’s small philosophy of integrating the concept of time—hoping to create more time within limited time. The shop’s name, outlined in rusted iron sheets in both Chinese and English, also conveys a sense of the passage of time and aging.

Before the café opened, the two owners spent two months renovating the old house together. They stripped away the original wall surfaces and painted the exposed red brick walls white, creating an indoor-outdoor echo. The entire shop presents a minimalist color scheme dominated by black and white, combining modern style with an original rugged texture. Additionally, they collected many antique objects such as electric fans, old TV cabinets, and vintage suitcases, lending a strong retro vibe. “The birdcage at the entrance belonged to my father, and the old side table was left by my grandmother,” the owner laughed. It’s a “culmination of various elements” of old and new, though perhaps art spaces are meant to be rule-free, shaped only by casual, natural preferences and ideas.

 

On the right side of the entrance courtyard, there used to be a small pond, which the owner turned into a water wall and added a set of tables and chairs. Sitting in the courtyard with coffee under the afternoon sun must be an extremely pleasant experience. Even if you’re seated indoors, you can still enjoy the abundant natural light filtering through the large floor-to-ceiling windows. Behind the bar, a wide array of cameras is displayed alongside various cups, plates, and coffee utensils. The owner revealed that weekends are the busiest times here. On the weekday we visited, there weren’t many customers, but the two owners were still busy preparing meals behind the bar for us.