Opened in 2012, Café del Volcán is one of the initiation cafes of specialty coffee in Shanghai. Café del Volcán, a ten-square-metre café at 80 Yongkang Road, has grown into one of Shanghai's most well-known coffee roasters, with two branches and a coffee laboratory.

A stable and high-quality source of coffee beans is one of the most essential elements of running a boutique café, most of which are sourced directly from the production estate or through middlemen, and what sets Café del Volcán apart is that it has its own coffee estate. Café del Volcán's coffee estate is called Faldas del Volcán, located in Guatemala, the "coffee paradise", and the "Guatemalan Santa Rosa" produced from here is the signature coffee bean of Café del Volcán. The beans are the default espresso option in the store, and the espresso has an almond walnut flavor with a slightly sweet aftertaste and fruity acidity. If you want to taste the pure taste of "Guatemalan Santa Rosa", hand-poured is the perfect choice.

At Café del Volcán, there are more than four types of single coffee, including "Guatemalan Santa Rosa", which can be drunk in Yunnan, Sumatra, and Ethiopia. Café del Volcán's coffee beans are self-roasted, and in addition to in-store and retail use, they are regularly supplied to local restaurants, hotels, cafes, and more, including well-known establishments. The roasting date of the coffee beans is clearly marked on the menu in the store, and the freshness is quite transparent. Café del Volcán doesn't have a wide variety of drinks, but the all-English menu can be a nuisance for some diners. For those who don't know anything about the menu, it is recommended to inform the barista directly of your taste needs, and he can also get a good coffee experience by recommending them.

Café del Volcán's signature store is still located at 80 Yongkang Road, and the cramped café is full of visitors. The other branch, near Jing'an Temple, only has a take-out window and only has espresso and does not serve pour-over. The Jing'an Temple store is in partnership with the 45 Degrees restaurant upstairs, and you can also order coffee at Café del Volcán in the 45 Degrees restaurant. Café del Volcán Coffee Lab is located in the Yuangu Cultural and Creative Park in Yuanqiao, Minhang District, providing professional coffee training for baristas, roasters and companies, as well as a place for coffee lovers to learn about coffee culture.

*Encyclopedia of knowledge

How do you drink specialty coffee?

The best way to taste a cup of specialty coffee is to experience the flavor of the coffee itself without milk or sugar. Most first-time coffee tasters have a hard time understanding why anyone is so obsessed with this sour, bitter, dull-colored liquid. It is recommended to drink your first cup of specialty coffee with the mentality of tea, coffee is the same as tea, aroma and taste are its greatest charm. If you find the taste too strong, adding water is the best solution, as it dilutes the flavor of the coffee without taking away the aroma of the coffee. Alternating between strong and dark, even hot and cold, the same coffee can be drunk with different flavors.