A minimalist café in Taoyuan with an ultra-healing "Totoro latte art" latte

Text & Photos byHappy Cloud

Life is so interesting. When I first moved to Zhongli, I thought there were no interesting shops nearby. But unexpectedly, after moving, I stumbled upon a café that was just my style—Rayson Café (sweet cafe).

The first floor has a high-ceilinged space, not very large, but it’s quite comfortable. The combination of large glass windows and wooden doors creates a familiar Nordic minimalist vibe. Inside, the simple design and classic calligraphy decorations give off a Japanese Zen-like atmosphere.

On weekend afternoons, quite a few people come here for coffee. I’ve forgotten how I discovered this café, but even after moving away from France View, I’d still glance over whenever I passed by to see if anything had changed. Hmm, there seem to be more people and more shops now—quite different from the empty feeling when I first moved here.
I think I may have passed by this café before, but it’s easy to forget. Then, without realizing it, I visited again, creating a few hours of connection—and making it a café I’ll definitely return to.

On a weekend afternoon, we got lucky and snagged the table by the entrance. After sitting down, I observed the space and the people inside—more people are visiting cafés in Zhongli these days, and they’re much younger too.

While looking at the menu, a customer came to pick up some desserts. She seemed very familiar with the options, which made me think the desserts here must be great. Yep, I’ll definitely order some later.

I asked the staff—or was it the owner?—and she said the desserts were running low today. She briefly introduced the seasonal limited-edition lychee and mango desserts, as well as a lemon tart (I think—I forgot the name, but taste matters more than names!).

Before long, the desserts arrived. "Guifei Xiao" (Consort’s Smile)—what a cute name. The staff said it’s best eaten while chilled!! Wow!!! The cool, refreshing taste is perfect for this hot summer. Judging by the name, it’s truly the kind of dessert that would make a consort smile. As the name suggests, it’s a lychee jelly dessert with whole lychees and a subtle hint of lemony sweetness—the flavors are perfectly balanced. So delicious!!

The other dessert, the lemon tart, is adorable with its sliced design on the plate!! Okay!! I admit the plate alone won me over, and the bright yellow color—wow!! It looks so tasty!! The tangy lemon curd pairs perfectly with the tart shell, with just a hint of the bitterness from the lemon zest. The sweet-and-sour flavor with a touch of bitterness is a great touch, making it a perfectly balanced and delightful dessert!!

The desserts here vary daily, and quantities are limited—you really have to see what fate brings you. Today’s desserts were all spot-on, and I loved them. When ordering, I totally forgot to ask the prices!! But hey, good taste matters more!!

We also ordered two coffees—one was a pour-over. Which single-origin beans were available? You’ll have to ask the staff—they can also recommend options based on your taste preferences.

I went with a Panamanian bean. I think there were three options, but I forgot the name of the middle one. At cafés, I usually go for Central American beans—maybe because I’ve visited the region, so there’s a bit of nostalgia attached. Of course, the quality of Central American beans is excellent, especially Panamanian beans, a renowned single-origin region. Most of my experiences with them have been great!!

At Rayson Café, the single-origin coffee comes prepared in two ways—one hot and the other chilled by pouring it over ice in a glass filled with large cubes after it cools slightly. It’s like drinking whiskey!!

The staff also reminded me to let it cool a bit before pouring to avoid too much dilution, which could make the coffee too weak. The beans today were likely medium-light roasted.
The fruity aroma and slight acidity were familiar flavors. Next time, I’ll try the staff-recommended single-origin beans and see what they suggest.

I also ordered a "Totoro Latte" from the menu. Hahaha, how’s this different from a regular latte?? Not much—just the Totoro latte art. Though it costs 20 NT more than a regular latte, seeing this adorable design is super healing—so great!!

Also, the original latte comes in two price options—one lets you choose the café’s recommended coffee blend for the latte, which is pretty clever. I’ll have to try that next time!!

It’s such a pity I’ve already moved away. Otherwise, this would’ve been a place I’d visit often. I love the ambiance here, as well as the coffee and desserts. I’m not sure why the owner chose to open here (I heard they moved from Yangmei) or their story.

But given the chance, I’d love to return on a weekday afternoon for coffee and a chat. I’ll definitely come back—such a well-matched café. Highly recommended to everyone!!

Rayson Café (sweet cafe)
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Address: No. 205, Sanguang Rd., Zhongli District, Taoyuan City (France View)
Phone: 03 495 2178
Business Hours: Wed–Fri 1:00 PM–8:00 PM, Sat 1:00 PM–9:00 PM, Sun 1:00 PM–8:00 PM; Closed Mon & Tue.

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