Berry Beans Brings Fancy Cold Brew Tech to Chunxiu Lu

Not one to become complacent, local roastery Berry Beans is continuing to experiment with what’s possible in a café space – and with coffee. They impressed with their wacky, triangle-heavy space in Dongzhimen, offered a convenient cup with their hole-in-the-wall flavored cold brew dispensary across from Sanlitun Soho, and they made a few friends with their espresso martinis at Berry Beans to Go in Xinyuanli. If there’s one thing that can be said about their openings, it’s that each new spot is something different – and the latest shop at Chunxiu Lu is no exception.

The science of no sleep

In fact, for seekers of high-quality brews, this location may just be their most interesting yet. Lining the walls near the register are what appear to be some sort of coffee hookahs – a unique method of cold brewing that allows ice water to drip onto a spoon until the weight of the drops cause the spoon to dip, pouring the water onto the coffee grounds, which are topped by a thin filter. The final product is then collected at the bottom of the machine.

It's like a caffeinated drinking bird

I can’t say much about the merits of this method or the science behind it, but perhaps the results can speak for themselves. The barista is eager to give samples, which are offered in whiskey snifters for maximum aroma. The specialty cold brews that come out of these machines really are packed with flavor – at least as much, if not more, than your typical artisan hot pour-over. One particularly interesting option is the Berry Beans Winey, made with whiskey-infused beans that give it a distinct bourbon-y flavor.

Samples are served in whiskey snifters for maximum aroma

Compared to the Dongzhimen location, this shop seems to be built more for taking Instagram pics than it is for work and study – which is a bit of a shame since it has enough room to be both. The only tables are large enough for a couple of glasses but far too small for a laptop or notebook.

The sizable (and mostly empty) back room is, perhaps intentionally, left completely undecorated and unfinished. Its centerpiece is a Berry Beans branded bicycle – a clear nod to the wanghongs looking for something to take a selfie with.

To be fair, the shop has only been open for about a month, so there is still plenty of time to give the backroom some extra flare, or at least a larger table. Until then, it’s still a fine place for a sit-down and chat, or simply to grab a bottle of damn fine cold brew to go.

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