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Must-Try Coffee in Beijing | Asia’s Only Café Ranked in the Global Top 50

  • Writer: Bite Escape-Lin
    Bite Escape-Lin
  • Oct 9
  • 2 min read

Updated: Oct 10

☕ Metal Hands Cafe (Dongsi Branch)

📍 No.6 Nanyang Hutong, Dongcheng District (near Nanyang Theater)

⏰ 10:00am-19:00pm

Beijing is home to many great cafés, but this Beijing café hidden inside a quiet hutong truly stands out. If you’re searching for the best coffee in Beijing, this spot captures the creative and vibrant spirit of local life. Surrounded by trees covered in hand-drawn graffiti near the lake, it feels like a Beijing hidden gem — spacious, multi-level, and full of cozy corners. It’s the perfect place to enjoy great coffee in Beijing, relax on weekends, catch up with friends, or get some work done in a laid-back atmosphere.

Brief Introduction

Metal Hands Coffee Manufacturing Bureau in Beijing is the flagship store of the specialty coffee brand Metal Hands, founded by Ding Jiangtao. The brand originated in 2016 in Wudaoying Hutong, known for its retro industrial aesthetic inspired by the manual metal lever espresso machine. Starting from the hutongs of Beijing, Metal Hands has expanded to cities like Shanghai, Hangzhou, and Suzhou. In 2019, it was recognized as one of the Top 50 coffee shops in the world.

Recommended Items



“Happy Ghost Dirty” is a must  (45 RMB/Cup)- almost everyone gets one. It’s topped with a ring of fruit crumble, smooth and rich in texture, with layers of creamy, oily goodness. So tasty! Highly recommended.
The interior is a cozy mix of wood tones and vintage European vibes, with lots of theater-style murals on the walls.



"Guava Dirty" – A Refreshing Summer-Only Treat(48 RMB/Cup). This drink is super cute too-soft and pink!
The first sip brings a sweet, fruity burst of fresh guava, clashing in a fun way with the coffee. It’s a fruit-forward Dirty with a refreshing vibe.
Personally, compared to the richer and more layered “Happy Ghost” flavor, the guava one feels more direct, more summery.
It’s tasty for sure! But if you’re after that bold, rich coffee hit with creamy, milky notes, you might find it just a little too light-more like a delicious fruit coffee special than a true Dirty.


"Viennese Coffee"-A must-try for sweet lover(45 RMB/Cup). The sweetness is more pronounced, likely due to the absence of ice dilution, which makes the cream feel a bit too rich toward the end-slightly cloying.

That said, the underlying coffee aroma remains strong, with a well-balanced flavor profile. The caffeine level is just right-enough to refresh without being overpowering. Overall, it’s a pretty safe and enjoyable coffee drink.


Tenghuang Wuhua Saffron” -Best match with coffee(65 RMB). It may look plain on the outside, but it’s surprisingly delightful inside. This cheesecake is super tasty—light, not too sweet, and not heavy at all. But i should admit it's so tiny.

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