我的长沙: History of Coffee & “2Walk Cafe”

It started since the Fifteenth-Century when the Christian-monks first discovered the attributes of coffee in Ethiopia, and it wasn’t initially tasted by humans, but animals. It was indeed the way in which it happened, thanks to their goats eating the coffee beans and becoming energized; and when these men noticed this, they realized it could be used for human consumption once it was grounded into a fine powder and added into boiling water. The Christian-monks weren’t the only ones to pick-up on this idea which quickly spread throughout Northern Africa, the Middle East and Europe.

With the Industrial Revolution, the growth in quality of life and more leisure time by the time the Eighteenth-Century came around, coffee houses grew all over Europe. But the first coffee houses were introduced long before. The idea started in the Middle East (Istanbul) after the discovery of the coffee bean and throughout the next century it slowly migrated into Europe. People began to add other flavors into the coffee blend, such as cinnamon; while those who had the means to visit a coffee house were already adding milk and sugar into their respective drinks to make it less black or less intense with the bitter taste.

Today, there are four types of coffee beans grown around the world which are the best or in my point of view are superior in taste: Ethiopia, Arabica, Colombia and Sumatra.

This doesn’t mean that places like Cuba, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Brazil, Panama, Jamaica or Costa Rica don’t have the beauty and flavor in the way this bean is grown. All of these and the above paragraph do have the taste to make a great coffee. That is why, these flavors are produced for a market of coffee lovers all around the planet. However, flavors are like everything in life, it will depend on the season in which these are grown and what are the personal tastes.

Presently, this same concept has been growing for approximate 30-years across China. Although, China is still very much a tea-drinking society, coffee houses came in with a bang and began conquering the market: whether it was Starbucks or the Costa Coffee franchises. Today things are changing in the market with the introduction of Luckin’ Coffee. 

However, as much as I like the latter and above coffee companies, in truth, my heart always enjoys a good sit down at an independent cafe. The type of cafe that is basically family owned, like a “mom and pop’s shop/store”. There is something specially personalized about an owned store outside of a franchise corporation. Once it’s well run, there is that personal service extended to the customer, and once the coffee is served with a nice dessert, it can be enjoyed even more!

The other day, Jimmy Zhang and I walked into such a place, a magical cafe, one he usually frequents in his leisure time and to take a break from his busy work-and-study program. To be honest, it is well hidden, it has a retro concept; but at the same time, it feels a little bit Hemingway-ish (in a “Bodeguita del Medio” kind of way)--with the typewriter and books decorating the window. This cafe was established back in Changsha during the year 2022 and has endured in spite of the current slow market economy. What makes it so elegant and groovy is the ambiance to enjoy a nice cappuccino, latte or iced coffee just to take the burdens of life away and stresses through a comfortable sit down; while enjoying a styled coffee unique to their particular business.

When the coffee is being prepared, there is the espresso machine at full blast. One can then notice the bar, and on the wall, the Italian Greccas or Moka coffee pots which give a unique flavor and decoration to the place. What was missing at the time was the jamming of music, or a chilled sound to go with this coffee-bar!

In the end, the coffee was so good, that I decided to have another in this stylish ambiance, and I thought for a moment, “What a great place to have a coffee, sit with a friend to have a nice conversation or simply sit with a laptop, and for those writers (like us) out there to spill words of inspiration about these four walls!” That was the experience and vibe which the “2Walk Cafe” gave to me. In the end, I hope you can swing by and enjoy this chilled-out groovy environment. It’s for all, and what is best than to enjoy this experience with a good friend and savor what Ethiopia originally has given us, coffee!

To experience this bohemian styled cafe and enjoy its savory coffee or beverages, please access the address in English and Chinese: 长沙市雨花区井湾子街道韶山路131号第006第一层1号门面, 2walk走走咖啡; No. 1, Business Unit 006, 1st Floor, 131 Shaoshan Road, Jingwanzi Street, Yuhua District, Changsha City. 

Please enjoy and have a nice coffee day!