歐舍咖啡

Large and well-curated selection of reasonably freshly roasted single-origin (often down to the farm) coffee beans, knowledgeably labeled, and a cafe it you want to enjoy a drink on site.

I sort of took this coffee shop for granted when I first visited. I had moved away and had gotten it in my head that coffee always made me sick, anyway. Then family members introduced me to "third wave" coffee and this shop, and I realized that there is actually coffee I can drink! It was only when I had a hard time finding similar shops in the US that I realized how nice it was to have Orsir.

In the States, a really nice coffee shop might have just 6 to 8 single-origin beans on the shelves at any time. At Orsir, you can get beans from just about any region and there's never a problem finding lighter roasts. Each bag is clearly labeled with one of six roast levels, roast date, and tasting notes. There is always a selection of 4 or 5 coffees brewed and ready to sample for free, so you can find out what you like. It you can read Chinese, there are detailed profiles of each bean or blend online. (Right now, there's 71 choices!) There's a surprising number of past and current Cup of Excellence winning farms represented, especially coming from a small outfit with just 2 locations. I feel like they make a serious effort to obtain acclaimed coffees from around the world. There are also blends if you like. Prices are reasonable compared to the US, and when you purchase a half-pound bag, you often have the option of buying sample packs at a discount - nice for trying new or expensive beans. (Last time, I got a sample of Bolivian Agro Takesi Typica not knowing how expensive it normally is, and it blew my mind.)

Much of the selection is also available in pre-ground single serving drip pouches that hang on your mug, sort of the coffee equivalent of the teabag - basically an instant pourover. To me, it's too much waste material for regular usage, but it's convenient for occasional travel or sharing with friends who don't have brewing equipment.

There's not a lot of brewing equipment for sale, but if you're a V60 user, you'll find what you need here.

So what are the downsides? It's fairly minor, but I feel it can be a bit intimidating to walk in here as a newbie who doesn't know how to properly cup a sample. The staff are friendly, as is often the case in Taiwan, but salesmanship in Taiwan can also be more aggressive and to-the-point than it is in Chicago, so people who want to be greeted and then left alone to browse until they have a question might feel a bit flustered. Also, they still don't take credit cards! Still, I might give a 5 for the amazing selection alone. Now if only they would open a Chicago location...