Espresso Yourself: The Best Cafés for Taipei Remote Workers

Author Jeffrey Schwab

Photographer Jeffrey Schwab, Sunchill, Coffee To, 8%, Zhanlu

Editor CHIH YI CHEN

With 3.4 coffee shops every for every square kilometer, the density of cafes in Taipei is the highest in the nation.  Whether on-the-go, or wanting to take a respite from the hustle of urban rhythm, there are no lack of choices to enjoy a fresh cup.  For those who have the flexibility to enjoy the freedom of working remotely, many of these coffee shops are excellent spots to pop open our laptops and focus in a relaxing or vibrant environment.  This piece provides a bit of guidance on some of Taipei’s lesser-known offerings for remote or hybrid professionals to change up their routines.  The shops listed in this piece are not in any particular order, but they must stick to the following criteria:

• The shops provide electrical outlets for remote working.
• They are within a 5-10 minute walk of a nearby metro.
• The staff does not rush customers for a time limit.
• They open their doors by 9:00 am or earlier.
• Their settings provide ample natural lighting.

Sunchill Cafe

Located near the red line, in between Minquan West Rd. station (民權西路站) and Yuanshan stations(圓山站) , Sunchill Cafe is located in an excellent area to take a walk or Ubike to the nearby Confucius（孔廟） and Bao’an Temples(保安宮) (about 10 minutes away).  Their cold brew coffee never disappoints, always served in a glass to contrast its stormy color with the bright interior of the shop.  They have simple breakfast sandwiches and scones available and have recently expanded their selection of pastries. The sturdy wooden chairs provide ample back support, and the shop is rarely crowded, as most customers tend to order their drinks to-go from the window.  There are a row of individual chairs with baskets for bags along the wall.  Although only provides a limited number of outlets, the staff never rush customers to leave, and you can enjoy the ambient music in the background while working. 

“We want to create a relaxed and chill environment and connect the morning sunshine with morning coffee. The keywords SUN and CHILL entered our list of potential store names. Coincidentally, the Chinese pronunciation of these words is very similar to “hill” (山丘), reflecting the Taiwanese love for puns. We have always maintained a commitment to all the raw materials we use. This ranges from the coffee beans we use the most to fresh milk (Lunbei fresh milk), Kyoto matcha, Okinawa brown sugar, and the homemade bread, which uses Japanese Showa flour. We personally search for and test all our ingredients (for example, before opening, we tested 25 kinds of fresh milk in one night). “ Sunchill’s owner.  

Coffee To (國家攝影文化中心門市）

Located within a stone’s throw of Taipei Main Station, this coffee shop brings not only great beverages, but also some history.  It shares the same space with a boutique stationery and gift shop that remote workers can peruse during in-between stretch breaks.  Take some time before, during, or after working remotely to explore the photography exhibitions that are housed in the museum space on the 2nd and 3rd floors.  Light breakfast fare of scones and thick toast are available, along with some of Taiwan’s finest coffee blends.

“In addition to providing great coffee, we focus on fostering a lifestyle of interaction and sharing among people, embodying the business philosophy of “coffee to you, I to you,” ensuring each customer has a close and pleasant coffee experience. Each month, our roaster selects five coffee beans: one Taiwanese bean, one Geisha bean, and three world-class specialty beans, featuring flavors like wine, floral, and fruity notes, showcasing three distinct coffee profiles at once. Customers can choose a single-origin coffee, sit at the bar, chat with the barista, and listen to them explain and brew your coffee.” 

Zhanlu Coffee湛廬咖啡

Located in Taipei’s Neihu District, where technology meets Nature, Zhanlu is an excellent place to work from in the morning right before taking an afternoon hike in the surrounding mountains.  As this is a newly developed area in Taipei, the shop is also quite modern with an avante-garde feeling.  Zhanlu’s mix of futuristic elements crossover with a dreamlike quality, and recommended are the iced cold-drip–so rich and powerful that one serving will last the entire morning.  In addition to their coffee, the cafe has an excellent choice of fresh and healthy meal options, as well as some great dessert selections for the sweet-tooth within us all.  Highly recommended are their pour-overs and affogato.

8%ice Cafe

It’s best if visitors to this cafe come prepared for a classical music or jazz experience.  With multiple branches across Taipei, this location is the one with the most natural sunlight.  Some of the benefits of this shop are its close location to both the orange and red metro lines, as well the breakfast and lunch selections (recommended are the chicken curry lunch, or the smoked salmon burger).  For those who find their productivity rise from live music inspiration, each of the 8% shops hosts two daily afternoon musical performances of classical music or light jazz.  The one drawback from this particular shop is that there are limited outlets to plug in a laptop from.

Reeds Coffee and Bakery

For those who are wanting to get a bit further from the city center, take the red line to Beitou Station 北投 station.  As with Zhanlu’s proximity to Nature, this coffee shop and bakery brings visitors close to the nearby hotspring respite area of Taipei.  Go on a day where you only plan to work in the morning, making sure to take stretch breaks to check out the full bookstore on the 2nd and 3rd floors.  You can get some fresh baked bread as a snack, or choose from one of their healthy salads.  After a morning sitting by the window working on the 2nd floor, take time in the afternoon to go to nearby Xin Beitou 新北投 where you can enjoy hot springs in the afternoon.

As a coffee enthusiast, I hold two chain coffee shops in Taipei in high regard: Dreamers Coffee Roasters and Louisa Coffee. Each has unique charms that set them apart in Taipei’s coffee scene.

Dreamers Coffee Roasters, opening its doors at 8 a.m., offers premium selections like Sudachi Cold Brew and Snow Mist Cold Brew. This cafe chooses excellent locations that foster a relaxed atmosphere, making each visit memorable.

Louisa Coffee, sometimes called the “Starbucks” of Taipei, is particularly noteworthy at its Taipei Station branch and Louisa Co-Branded Flagship Store. With doors open from 7 a.m., this branch boasts ample natural lighting, a train-themed ambiance, and a view over the Zhongshan walking mall. It’s also well-equipped with outlets, making it ideal for work or unwinding.