Beans & Beats: Cafe, Record Store & Hip Hop Label on Fujin Street

It’s no secret that Taipei is packed to the brim with cool cafes, each boasting their own style or specialty menu. From tiny take-out stalls to animal cafes and themed cafes, there really is something for everyone. One cafe we recently visited was Beans & Beats, located on the leafy Fujin Street in Minsheng Community, a neighbourhood known for cute, cosy cafes. We were intrigued by Beans & Beats’ concept: a coffee shop that is also part record store and office of Taiwanese hip hop label KAO!INC. We were already pretty confident that it was going to be cool before we visited, but it was nice to have our suspicions confirmed when we dropped by one lazy Sunday.

The ground floor of Beans & Beats is the coffee shop, which has a polished, modern industrial design that still manages to be quite cosy. The hip hop playing at a low volume in the background gives it a bit of atmosphere, as do the vinyl records lining the walls. We were pleased to find that there was strong WiFi and plenty of seating and electrical outlets, making it the perfect spot for us to settle down with laptops on a Sunday afternoon.

Unfortunately, on the afternoon of our visit Beans & Beats had run out of a considerable portion of their menu, so we reluctantly gave up on some of their more creative options. Since it was a Saturday and we were looking for reasons not to focus on work, we ordered a Henry & Sally’s IPA by Mikeller ($220), a strong, citrusy beer that really hit the spot. There were a couple of other interesting Taiwanese beers that caught our eye that we’d return to try, too.

To wake us up a little bit, we also went for the Beans & Beats smooth cafe latte ($130 for hot, $140 for cold). This was strong and milky, and we enjoyed it a lot despite it not being terribly memorable.

Check out their food and drink menu here.

As if the cafe itself isn’t cool enough, the basement of Beans & Beats is where the real magic happens — it acts as a record store, recording studio, performance area and office for cult Taiwanese hip hop label KAO!INC. Wander on down to browse hip hop, jazz and classic vinyls, or keep up-to-date with their events here if you want to see some Taiwanese hip hop in action. You can also contact them if you are interested in renting out the space for your own personal use.

Overall, we really enjoyed hanging out at BEANS & BEATS. Not only was the concept unique and offbeat, but the cafe was comfortable and great for working in, which won major points with us. We’d definitely return here to chill out or do some work on our laptops, and would jump at the chance to attend an event here. Minsheng Community — and Fujin Street, where BEANS & BEATS is located — is already an awesome spot for a lazy day of cafe-hopping, and we’re happy to add this one to the list.

What’s the vibe?

Polished but cosy cafe with a chilled out atmosphere, perfect for doing work in or catching up with friends. Customers were mostly young locals when we visited.

Worth it?

It’s a nice place to hang out or work in, and one of our favourite cafe options in Minsheng Community. It’s not cheap, but the concept is cool and it has a nice atmosphere, which is admittedly a little on the hipster side.

Would you go back?

We probably wouldn’t make a point of returning unless we were in the area, but sure.

Last updated February 2020.

BEANS & BEATS

Hours: 11am – 6:30pm

Phone: 02 2765 5533

English Address: No. 346, Fujin Street, Songshan District, Taipei City

Chinese Address: 台北市松山區富錦街346號