Capital Caff: Home Brewing Greybox's Tokyo Blend
While it’s pretty easy to grab any old brand of coffee beans around the capital, put them in the machine or add them to the filter for pour over – how about giving some of the beans on offer from local shops a go instead?
Even though it is super convenient to just order a latte or Americano from one of Beijing’s many local shops, the costs add up if it’s a daily occurrence. So in order to keep my finances intact, but my thirst for the black nectar that is coffee quenched, I decided to see what sort of bean blends a few local shops are churning out.
A look at the beans out of the bag
The first of these is Greybox. Having first opened up in the CBD in 2017, it seems to have been a sore spot back in the day, when we called it a rip off.
Since that opening way back when, it was pretty easy to overlook with all the other shops opening left and right since that year. But what caught my attention when perusing their menu was their blends of beans on offer. Two to be exact – Tokyo and Australia.
Brewing it up with pour over
While the names remain a bit of a mystery – especially considering the one I decided upon, Tokyo, was a blend of beans from Brazil and Papua New Guinea – the flavor isn’t all that bad.
It’s subtle upon the first sip, with only a hint of acidity and a light sweetness, along with traces of smokiness and whiskey notes peeking through. Although at times it seems a bit too subtle, it’s still a decent cup of coffee.
Ready to be enjoyed
At RMB 88 for around 250g, it’s a nice little bag of coffee to have if you’re looking for something that you can revisit and ponder over from time to time without ordering a single cup at a time or trekking to the CBD for a takeaway.
Find it by searching Greybox on your favorite delivery app.
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Images: Vincent R. Vinci
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