Sometimes it takes a while to discover a place. Since moving back to the Wuxi New District I have been walking back and forth in front of the Cozy Cafe for weeks. I remember this place since it had previously been an SPR coffee. I never bothered to go in. This was a mistake because as I discovered it is a very nice coffee shop located just outside the Yangtze International Gardens. This means that it is within easy walking distance of where I and many other Expats live and it even has a great weekend brunch.

See Google Map for location

I think I never went in before because I really can't stand Chinese coffee shops. When I want a coffee, I want coffee! I don't want to choose between Blue Mountain, Mocha or Espresso all of which come in the same cup and taste remarkably the same. I don't want to tell people that I want my coffee hot! I just assume that if you order coffee it is hot! I don't want to watch people make my coffee. I want my coffee in a cup in less than 5 minutes after I order. It has to be hot and black! (I will add large amounts of sugar)

I am not into coffee culture! Too put it bluntly at 10:00 am in the morning I don't want to make decisions. At least not before a cup of coffee. I want a cup of coffee, (that is hot) and a newspaper. Later I may be in the mood to make a decision.  Neither I do I want to look or feel cool. If you tell me your double Expresso Laite has a little too much nutmeg in it I will tell you to fuck off!

I really don't give a shit if in Italy they steam their milk, or if the shops uses only imported coffee beans purchased from a workers collective in South America. I just want a good cup of coffee.

Luckily the Cozy Cafe did just that! I order a coffee and three minutes later I had a good cup of hot joe! They didn't ask me if I wanted it hot, they just served a good cup of coffee. They even had a copy of China Daily for me to read!

I was also able to order a really good breakfast on the weekend. The weekend brunch is just 30 RMB. This includes an egg, two pieces of toast and a couple of slices of bacon with a cup of coffee!