A Café Survived Ten Years in "A Desert for Coffee"
Coffee on the Small Flame
Miss Meng started January Coffee in Harbin, her birthplace, in 2012 after graduating with a bachelor’s degree in Applied Psychology but failing to land the ideal employment. Then, the long-running ice cream parlor Modern Ice Cream Bar served as the model for her new venture. More than just a location to purchase a popsicle, this parlor, which started in 1906, serves as a hub of culture for both locals and tourists. Harbin’s culture does not, however, place much emphasis on coffee. Coffee is not typically regarded by locals as a normal beverage but rather as a representation of petty bourgeoisie life.
Miss Meng made significant investments in her own coffee-making education and the development of her clients’ coffee cultures out of a sense of responsibility for her clients. The exceptional calibre of January Coffee’s goods even raised the bar for the Harbin coffee market. She transformed January Coffee from a small studio operating out of her home to a highly regarded coffee business, but she did not start turning a profit until 2016.
"There might be something
heroic about my choice."
Miss Meng employed a staff of four full-time baristas to supply practically all coffee-related goods and services, including roasting coffee beans, beverages, food, hanging ear drip coffee bags, coffee-making training sessions, shop opening assistance, organizing coffee markets, etc., in order to keep the café running.
The local economy was severely impacted by the covid and China’s tough zero-covid policy, which includes widespread vaccination, tight borders, strict lockdowns, protracted quarantines, and ongoing testing. Eight brutal city-wide lockdowns that the local government has implemented since 2020 have significantly jeopardised January Coffee’s existence and weakened Miss Meng’s resolve to operate the independent cafe in Harbin.
Nearly every day, Miss Meng considered leaving Harbin, but she was able to stay because of the support of January Coffee’s consumers and the dedication of the January team. It was only this past July that people celebrated January Coffee’s tenth birthday.
