18 Grams

I prefer the quaint charm of 18 Grams' original shop at Causeway Bay. The other 2 outlets are housed in the malls; they feel like any other regular cafe with good coffee. At Causeway Bay, you get the whole vibe of a great coffee joint in its standalone space on the ground floor of a corner of a shophouse. Imho, the barista at the original heats up a better brew.

The tiny 10-seater at Causeway Bay can be expanded to a 14-seater, but it's cramped. So be prepared to stand. There's a ledge on the other side of the shop to chill out and look cool. Or grab a to-go. It's pretty open, so none of that stuffiness issue you'll get in a tiny space. The air-conditioning in the malls is strong. Way stronger than the relatively non-humid temperatures in the city. I need a sweater indoors, not outdoors.

They do food too. But I don't live in this city, so not really hankering after its rather decent menu. I can get the same food back home. It's the coffee I'm very fond of. This trip, I made plenty of time to visit the joint. Like daily. Mornings are taken up by hikes outside the city central. Then in our sweaty gear, we do a late lunch, followed by a shot of caffeine, and a hot shower back at the hotel to perk us up for the night.