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Popular %Arabica Cafe Expands to Rockbund

ShanghaiWOWeng 2018-11-29

The Japanese sensation hailing from Kyoto first set foot on Wukang Lu in Shanghai in February 2018 and became a local favorite almost instantly, drawing a horde of coffee lovers and trendsetters that had people wait for up to two hours to get their hands on one of their famous cups.


In just a few months, %Arabica took the local coffee scene by storm and have already opened a second location at Rockbund to draw its own queue in the district of Huangpu. We were fortunate to schedule an interview with their team on opening day.

 

265-square meter space on Rockbund

5 times bigger than its original cafe in Kyoto.

 


June 2nd marked the opening day of %Arabica’s second location in Shanghai, which also became the company’s largest cafe in the world. The modern look and feel of the shop and is juxtaposed with the old architecture along Yuan Ming Lu in Huangpu, thus creating a unique “old-meets-new” environment that seems to blend together perfectly.

 


Walking into their new location is a mesmerizing experience. It’s five times bigger than its iconic cafe in Kyoto, with a spacious 265-meter square surface so well designed that it’s impossible to walk past it without wanting to take a peek. The space is conveniently split in half: the right side is dedicated to their counter where orders are placed, while the left side is a dining area for patrons to sip their coffee, enjoy a solid meal and capture their best photos.

 


The new location displays the brand’s famous gold coffee-bean world map, next to which 

stand two coffee stations with %Arabica’s world-class Slayer Espresso machines.

 


The floor-length windows help create a very bright ambiance, showcasing how spacious the interior is.

 

A “heavyweight” coffee roaster

Bringing the best of %Arabica’s coffee beans home.

 


Another centerpiece here is their coffee roaster which boasts an industrial look, weighs around 25kg, and averages temperatures of 180-200°C to create the perfect cup of coffee. They are currently roasting beans from Brazil and Ethiopia.

 


There is also a designated roasting area with a large warehouse that stores all of %Arabica’s coffee beans from around the world.

 


A visit to their new cafe will feel like entering a manor where coffee lovers will go mad over the combination of beautiful interior design, excellent coffee and a wide selection of areas to sit in and capture their best selves.

 


Oh, and it gets even better: they’re beginning to roll out packs of beans for sale, starting with their Blend Mixed Beans! If we hadn’t told you, chances are you could have guessed it yourself from their WiFi password “BuyYourBeans”.

 


The interior shows a world map of where each of %Arabica’s set of beans comes from as if to tell the story behind the coffee they serve.

 

A day well spent at %Arabica

Meeting with Head Barista and latte-art world champion Junichi Yamaguchi

 


Despite a different interior compared with its other locations, the new cafe’s menu remains similar and stays true to the brand’s identity.

 


In order to create the best experience possible, their good-looking staff always greets you with a warm smile who rarely fail to receive one back from customers.

 


On the grand opening of the new Rockbund location, we were granted an exclusive interview with their Head Barista Junichi Yamaguchi who became the first latte-art world champion in 2014 and an Instagram sensation (@junichi_yamaguchi).


 

Every cup of latte is different but is always served very clean and fresh. Having our coffee prepared by Mr. Yamaguchi himself made our Saturday.


 

This new Huangpu location is a haven for photo lovers as bright space and photogenic coffee cups make for eye-catching pictures to be shared on social media.

 


In addition to their coffee beans, mugs by Mr. Yamaguchi are also available for pre-order. Below are some snapshots of the mugs and, if you take a closer look, you will see the new 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo BOMBANA restaurant hidden in the background which just recently moved to the neighborhood.

 


Their tote bags with the % logo imprinted on them are among other goodies you can purchase, which you can happily carry home on your way past their floor-to-ceiling windows that show the big % logo with pride.

 

Exclusive Shanghai WOW! Interview with Junichi Yamaguchi from %Arabica

 

Most people know you as the Head Barista and Co-Founder of %Arabica and the winner of the 2014 World Coffee Art Championship. Can you tell us more about yourself? Like your birthday, your horoscope, etc.

 

I wasn’t very much interested in coffee until I saw someone making coffee art on television and tried it out on my own. I began teaching myself for more than two years and as my skills improved over that time period, I kicked off a career in coffee. In 2009, I started my own coffee art training and tried finding a job as a professional barista in Tokyo. By that time I was already 30-years-old and without much experience, so very few people were willing to take a chance on me. It was only at Theater Coffee that I became a professional barista for the first time.

 

In 2014, I was honored to receive the title of 2014 World Coffee Art Champion and over the last four years, my priorities shifted to making excellent coffee and putting a smile on my customers’ face.

 

Also, I was born on April 6th, 1980 and I’m an Aries.

 


How did you feel about the massive turnout at %Arabica’s first Shanghai branch opening?

 

We were definitely surprised by the turnout during that festive period, and I was really thrilled and thankful for everyone’s support - especially those who waited over two hours for a cup of coffee from us. It means a lot.

 

 

In the past year and a half we've visited Japan three times, including two visits in Tokyo, and both times we caught you making coffee at the Kiyomizuji store. As a famous barista, how do you feel about dealing with the day-to-day operations?


The ground work keeps me happy, and I love interacting with our customers. Seeing them smile always brightens my day and makes work truly fulfilling. When I’m out in Tokyo, I often carry out trainings and don’t have much time left to make coffee, but being at the Tokyo store allows me to do that which is an opportunity I always cherish.

 

The menu at %Arabica is relatively simple. Is there a reason behind it?


What we hope to create is a timeless cafe, so the simpler the menu, the more time we have to dedicate to creating high-quality coffee and dishes. Much like the traditional sushi store in Japan, if we spend every day making the same food and coffee with the same amount of passion, then we’ll be able to perfect our craft and create a timeless drink, regardless of the latest trend.

 

After visiting so many countries, what do you think about the local coffee culture? Do you find it possible to standardize them?


While we work hard to stay true to our roots, we also value our customers’ feedback and prioritize their needs to the best of our abilities. For example, we know that consumers have a sweeter tooth in the Middle East so we launched our “Spanish Latte” collection there.

 

Even though we do cater our offerings to our customers’ preferences, we always stick to our own set of standards and values. People know that we’re a Japanese brand at its core and they value us in that regard, despite the differences between cultures.

 

What are some unique features about Shanghai products and collections?


As a cosmopolitan city, Shanghai is an inclusive place that translates to our products here well. We’re definitely not ruling out Shanghai-exclusive products and collections in the future.

 

You’ve visited Shanghai quite often already. Do you foresee even more frequent visits with this brand new opening?


I will come here pretty often, around once a month maybe? (The %Arabica team let a few chuckles out as if to double check whether that was actually accurate. On second thought…) Because we have many locations around the world, my schedule has become really packed and I hope to visit Shanghai once every season!

 

Shanghai seems to be a big market for you guys since you’re opening this new branch only four months after the first one opened its doors. Do you think there’s a difference in consumers between Shanghai and Japan? What’s been your most memorable experience with a fan here in Shanghai?


Our customers in Shanghai and Japan are all adorable. They really love to take photos in China and will often spend time to edit and share them on social media. In Japan, although they too love taking photos, customers prioritize their coffee.

 

I remember most of the interactions I have with our customers, and it warmed my heart to see some in Shanghai and Hangzhou whom I had previously met in Tokyo and who traveled all the way to support us when we opened here.

 

 

You’ve traveled back and forth between Japan and Shanghai on several occasions, right? What are some of your favorite places here? Any restaurants you particularly enjoyed and would recommend?


When I first came to Shanghai, I visited Lost Heaven near the Bund. It was big and beautiful, and I remember it as an interesting dining experience because we didn’t know what was on the menu so we ended up ordering a bunch of random dishes. I also enjoyed eating at some of the Shanghainese hot pot places.

 

I don’t shop much. When our first local branch opened on Wukang Road I walked around the neighborhood and shopped a bit, and now that the new location is conveniently close to the Bund, I will probably explore a few stores around as well.

 

You and your crew like to keep a low profile and rarely accept interviews. What would you like to say to your fans and the rest of our readers?


Our packed schedule leaves very little time for media interviews, and we truly appreciate every opportunity we have to share the love. At %Arabica, we hope to create an authentic Japanese coffee and dining experience to anyone who steps into our cafe anywhere in the world, and we thank you all for your continuous support.

  

%Arabica (Rockbund Branch)

Address: 1/F, Xie Jin Building, 169 Yuan Ming Lu

Hours: Monday to Sunday, 9am – 7pm


%Arabica (Wukang Lu Branch)

Address: 1/F, 374 Wukang Lu

Hours: Monday to Sunday, 9am – 8pm


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