Come True Coffee (Shenji)

Review

Come True Coffee's Shenji shop on Minsheng Road in West District is the brand's original location, founded by Wang Kuo-hsiung, a former vice president of the Wowprime restaurant group. It focuses on African specialty beans and charity, and the brand says it puts half its profits into well-digging projects for clean water in Africa, with 30 wells completed by 2025. The shop occupies the former auditor-general's residence in Shenji New Village, keeping its red-brick walls and tiled roof; inside are wood and white tones and floor-to-ceiling windows on three sides, with lawn seating outdoors. From here the brand has grown to more than twenty shops in Taiwan and Kuala Lumpur.

The signature is creative coffee that releases a cloud of smoke when the lid is lifted, such as the rose- and lavender-scented Purple Mist Blossom, recently about NT$210; the drifting smoke is a big part of the appeal. Soufflé pancakes are made to order in sweet and savory styles, with the seasonal fruit version at about NT$230, while the brown sugar pearl soufflé is a brand-wide bestseller, and reports say the chain sells over a thousand soufflés a day.

Opinions split in two. An earlier article described the soufflé as fluffy and holding its shape, while a later blogger found it dry, cake-like and low in sweetness, needing the berry jam. The smoking coffee is widely seen as a photo highlight and talking point, and the red-brick house and lawn are popular, but indoor seats are few and hard to get at peak times.

Soufflés take about 20 to 30 minutes. Indoor seating is mostly communal tables, with a one-drink minimum; order and pay, then collect with your number. Listed hours differ between sources, so check before you go.

Good for a photo-friendly coffee break while exploring Shenji New Village. Order a smoking coffee with a soufflé, place your order first and settle in for the wait; if you worry the soufflé will be dry, eat it with the jam.