JM Cafe Serves up Homey Vibes and Quality Coffee by Chez Gérard

In what appears to be an ongoing conquest to become the street with the highest concentration of coffee shops in the capital, earlier this month Beiluoguxiang welcomed JM Cafe to its ranks. Located just outside Chez Gérard in the former digs of the cafe-cum-library 天堂时光 tiāntáng shíguāng Heaven Times, JM Cafe is a bright and airy space that evokes some serious “living room” vibes.

The main area features four delightfully plush – albeit slightly low – chairs, as well as a somewhat inexplicable installation (maybe you can call it that) of white cages filled with gray and white plastic balls, a black cello sitting silently in the corner, and a splash of color courtesy of some Be@rbricks figurines behind the counter. Adding to those homey aesthetics is a record player and a small collection of vinyl from Jay Chou to the Velvet Underground. All told, it’s a mid-century modern design juxtaposed with 21st-century sincerity. Additional seating can be found in a little alcove at the back, plus outdoor seating in the shared courtyard.

For how low-key and inviting the shop is, its menu leans heavily into the third wave coffee ethos. Luckily, however, the baristas don’t possess any of the snobbery that’s become synonymous with the movement. Nevertheless, there are five single-origin drip options ranging from RMB 46 to RMB 56, three of which are sourced from Ethiopia, and the other two from Honduras and Colombia.

Meanwhile, the espresso menu boasts all the regular players such as an americano (RMB 30/32 and RMB 35 for regular or soda, respectively), flat white (RMB 32), and latte (RMB 32/35), as well as a few fancier options like the affogato (RMB 46), heavy mocha (RMB 38) and an eisbock dirty (RMB 35). If all of that sounds overwhelming and you have no idea what you’d like to order, the menu also features a “Blind Choice” option, in which you tell the barista what sort of flavor profile you’re in the mood for and they’ll happily brew something up accordingly.

JM Cafe is the passion project of finance professional Ji Ming Ma. Incidentally, the space kind of serves as an homage to one of his favorite musicians, Jay Chou. In fact, there’s a number of desserts named for Chou’s songs, not least of which is a milk chocolate and dark chocolate hazelnut mousse dubbed the Black Sweater (RMB 45).

Needless to say, whether you’re looking to get some work done or just want to enjoy a sunny day in the courtyard, JM Cafe is a comfortable little joint that does coffee right.

JM Cafe
Daily, 10am-7pm. 45 Beiluogu Xiang, Dongcheng District
东城区东城区北锣鼓巷45号

Images: Drew Pittock