When comparing to surging house price in Taiwan, salary level is almost unchanged since 20 years ago. Nowadays, teenagers are unable to afford a flat or even rent one with adequate space for receiving friends. Hence, they have to find a place for gathering in holidays, resulting in extreme popularity of cafe in Taiwan. On the other hand, it also makes the competition between cafes more vicious. In order to survive, owners of teahouse and cafe need to decorate their place as trendy and grand as they can or pay more effort on making the coffee. However, it is not enough for them to cover rent and staffing if they are at prime location of a city. Such condition eventually gives birth of complex cafe. For instance, Ino Home, which is located near National Taiwan Museum of Fine Art, combines the provision of brunch and accommodation and Wash Coffee (穿越九千公里交給你), which is neighboring Songshan Airport, offers laundry service additionally.
Yuan Sheng Cafe sits near Calligraphy Greenway (草悟道) and consistently keeps in a low profile. Passers-by would easily overlook the cafe while walking along the main street under tree shade, as the entrance is opened towards an alley. If visitors enter the alley, however, two stone statues and trapezoid wooden door certainly arouses their interest to peek in. Through shutter blinds, that the interior is full of potteries and religious statues, interpreting the place is to sell artworks. Until one has pushed the door open and seen customers chatting with coffee in their hands, nothing else reveals it is a cafe. According to the staff, the antique wooden cabinet and calligraphy printing hanged on the wall are for sale, but indeed they mainly provide service of interior design. We have to say it is a brilliant idea to bring office and cafe together, as the potential customers could freely experience representation of designer via coffee and chat, while client are more adapted to such light environment to discuss with their designer. Even for customers without need of designers are able to enjoy a afternoon tea in comfortable space. Such concept has largely widened the usage of the building.
The price is reasonable for a good coffee like this. Taiwanese tea is slightly overpriced, but it is compensated with a better quality than most chain teahouse. For afternoon tea, it is appealing to enjoy a cup of drink and two pieces of refreshment with less than TWD300. The most attractive part is the cafe tries to keep in low-key, so the cafe would not be full of people, allowing customers inside to enjoy a relaxing afternoon.
