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% Arabica
Add: 374 Wukang Road
Tel: 17301693358
Hours: 10am-10pm
Price: 25-50 RMB/coffee
Visited: Feb 2018
In September 2014, a coffee shop named “% Arabica” opened right near the beautiful Yasaka Pagoda in Kyoto, inside an old Japanese house of over 50 years old. The facade is low-key, but the stylish vibe oozing out from large window panes immediately attracts the passerby.
2014年9月，在古色古香的京都八坂塔旁一棟50多年的日式房子裏，開了一家名叫 “% Arabica” 的咖啡館。外觀低調，然而透過大片玻璃窗滲透出來讓人無法忽視的時髦感，輕而易舉地將路人都吸引了過去。
I happened to live 5 minutes away from the cafe, and went for an early coffee before the crowd got in. The entrance of the shop is a concrete replicate of the cobblestone pattern of Yasaka Street, which makes it seem like the outside pavement continues right into the shop, creating an illusion of a side street off the alleyway.
我前年去京都的住所正好在離 % Arabica 步行五分鍾之處，趁一大早還沒什麽人，找了過去。門口玻璃的通透感，以及店內延用與街道上相似的地磚，都讓人有種鑽入小巷子的錯覺。
The map on the wall symbolizes the motto of % Arabica: “See the world, through coffee”, and standing next under the map is Junichi Yamaguchi, winner of the “Coffee Fest Latte Art World Championship Open Tokyo 2014″, and now the head barista of % Arabica.
牆上的地圖代表著 % Arabica 的座右銘：”See the world, through coffee” － 藉由咖啡來認識這個世界。地圖下面這位就是店長山口淳一，我很幸運的捕捉到了他本人。他是2014拿鐵拉花大賽冠軍 (Coffee Fest Latte Art World Championship Open Tokyo 2014)，據說在海外競賽也是常勝軍，是個相當厲害的人物。
On another note, Kenneth Shoji, the founder of % Arabica, has quite an interesting background – you can read more about him here.
% Arabica的品牌創立人東海林克範，則是因爲貿易工作的關系遊遍世界各地，在反複思考自己想過什麽樣的生活時，發現其實 “想要簡單生活，只要在衣食住上能夠滿足，並且能帶著小孩一起到世界各地旅行”。熱愛咖啡的他，決定通過咖啡來實現這樣的生活。他在夏威夷買了一塊咖啡莊園，于香港創立了公司後將品牌帶回日本，與山口先生一起打造了京都的% Arabica。
Kyoto was extremely hot on the day of my visit so naturally I went for an iced latte, which turned out to be delicious. I also noticed that the shop uses milk from Hida, Japan, an area well-known for its wagyu and dairy products.
當時京都正逢炎夏，我點了杯冰拿鐵消消暑。咖啡的迷人風味完全不會被牛奶蓋過，比例完美，非常順口好喝（瞥見店裏用的是日本非常著名的飛驒高原牛乳）。
The second % Arabica in Kyoto opened in 2015 in Arashiyama, a three minute walk from Togetsukyo Bridge, just slightly out of the way from the main tourist area.
% Arabica 在京都的第二家店選址于嵐山桂川旁，也是由老房子改造，從渡月橋過去徒步3分鍾，是個美不勝收的地方。
The gorgoues Slayer machine is placed so that the barista has an exceptional view of the scenery while preparing the coffee. How very thoughtful! Can I please work here? So in love with these large sliding windows and the stunning view pouring in through the openness.
大片的玻璃窗讓外面的風景一覽無遺，嵐山四季的美麗都能從咖啡店裏欣賞到。咖啡機的擺放方式面向桂川，讓咖啡師在做咖啡時也能看到美景，實在是非常貼心的設計。話說，% Arabica 的咖啡師都是帥哥美女呢。
If you are visiting Kyoto, do not miss the opportunity to start your day off with a cup of % Arabica. Just thinking about these charming cafes make me want to go back to Kyoto already…
在嵐山住的那幾天，也是每天都去 % Arabica 報到 – 能于行程開始之前在如此漂亮舒服的環境裏喝杯好咖啡，是再幸福不過的事情了。
And most recently, % Arabica opened in Shanghai just last week! The location is a tucked-away spot in Ferguson Lane, now adorned with a simple yet bold “%” sign hanging on its green wall.
沒想到時隔一年多，% Arabica 居然在上海開幕了。地點在武康路一個（原本）安靜的小庭院內，綠油油的牆面上簡單地挂著 “%” 的標志，低調，但卻輕松地吸引了所有的目光。
The design is simple and sleek as usual. The elongated space is not unlike that of the Higashiyama shop, with a bar on the left that houses the baristas and extends to become a table for the customers.
門店采用一貫的極簡設計風格，入門後的狹長空間右邊邊是吧台，直接從前端延伸到尾端成爲給客人的座位，一體成形的設計非常漂亮。
A mini coffee roastery at the inner end.
最裡頭有個迷你的烘豆室。
Hello again gorgeous. This Slayer espresso machine, customized especially for % Arabica, is so beautiful that I want to learn how to make coffee just because. Tell me you don’t feel the same.
在上海店裏，又見到 % Arabica 這台特別定制的 Slayer 咖啡機。在京都時就覺得它實在太太太帥了，當時就有想爲了它學會如何煮咖啡這個小迷妹念頭。
This cutie pie also seems to be ubiquitous in % Arabica shops.
這一台小可愛，似乎也是 % Arabica 店裏的標配。
Head barista Junichi Yamaguchi himself was at the Shanghai shop during the first few days of opening, but now he’s back in Japan. On the day of my visit, I heard lots of Cantonese accents from the current baristas, and am guessing that they were brought in from % Arabica’s HK branches to support the new cafe.
上海店開幕前幾天有山口淳一本人坐鎮，不過聽說他昨天回日本了。現在吧台裏的咖啡師們很多聽起來有著香港口音，可能是 % Arabica 香港店過來支援的吧？每個都動作嫻熟，迅速地做出一杯又一杯的咖啡（排隊的人那麽多，他們應該很累吧！）
When ordering my latte, I was asked weather to I preferred the “blend” (35 RMB/small or 40 RMB/large) or “single origin” (40 RMB/small or 45 RMB/large) beans. Though there was quite a line behind me, the staff took the time to explain their differences – the blended beans have a slight chocolate flavor, while the single origin beans have a more pronounced acidity. Between my friend and I we tried both options, and in the end I preferred the bright acidity of the latter.
在點拿鐵的時候，被詢問了要綜合豆（35元/小杯 or 40元/大杯）或者單品豆（40元/小杯 or 45元/大杯）。雖然現場客人不少，但店員還是耐心地跟我們解釋兩種豆子的不同：綜合豆帶有巧克力風味，單品豆則是酸度明顯。我和朋友各點了一杯，嚐起來果然明顯不同，而我個人更喜歡用咖啡酸度明顯的單品豆做出來的拿鐵。
Other than the typical espresso-based items as well as a matcha latte, there are also a few fun-looking options, such as the “Spanish latte”, finished off with a dose of condensed milk. For those who are lactose-intolerant, soy milk option is available.
Menu 上除了有一些常見的咖啡選項以及抹茶拿鐵之外，還有一些看起來頗有趣的選擇，比如加了煉乳的 “西班牙拿鐵”，下次想要試試。乳糖不適症的人則可以選擇豆奶的 option。
There are even a couple of non-coffee related merchandises such as canvas backpacks and umbrella, which I don’t remember seeing in the Kyoto shops.
周邊産品除了咖啡豆之外，居然還有背包以及雨傘，都是我在京都沒有注意到的商品。
Unsurprisingly, % Arabica Shanghai boomed as soon as it opened. Apparently the wait during peak hours of the first few days were over three hours, which just sounds absurd – it is, after all, just a cup of coffee. On the day of my visit, however, it only took 10 minutes before my order was taken and another 15 minutes before I got my drink. Even though I’m not usually the type to wait in line, I didn’t much mind using this time to catch up with a friend who I haven’t seen in a while…
% Arabica 在上海一開幕就（不意外地）爆紅，據說前幾天的等待時間長達三個小時，實在也是有點誇張了。我到訪的當日雖然也排著隊，不過大約10分鍾就點單，再等15分鍾左右拿到咖啡。雖然平時是個自以爲討厭排隊的人，但正好用這個時間和許久不見的朋友聊天，20幾分鍾很快就過去了，而且店裏雖然坐滿了人，但到不至于有不舒服的感覺。
So is it worth it? Yes it is! While everyone’s gone from Shanghai for CNY Holiday, go get your cup of coffee, NOW.
值得去嗎？非常值得啊！趁現在春節上海人不多的時候，趕緊去喝一杯吧。
% Arabica
地址：武康路374號1層
電話：17301693358
營業時間：10am-10pm
價位：咖啡25-50元
造訪：2018年2月
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