Dreams into Reality: My Cofi, Kaohsiung
by Qian Leung
@ 17 Oct 2018
In a 66-year-old shophouse in the district of Hamasen in Kaohsiung, a coffee barista decided to open her second shop. “I’d like young people to be able to hone their craft here,” says Chang Kuei Fang, 50, of
My Cofi.
Chang first sold coffee out of a five-foot-way, and later became known for her 3D latte art, which ranges from popular requests of dogs and cats to unique ones like Sadako (horror character) and bikini-clad Nami (anime character). “If you bring along a photo, we can recreate it as a 3D latte art on the spot.”
For the milk foam to hold itself well, it needs to be dense and hardy, before being stacked, spoonful by spoonful, into desired forms. By mixing red food colouring into some milk foam, a pink colour can be used for the cheeks or paws of kitten shapes. Melted chocolate is used to draw in eyes and whiskers. “If you’re pursuing coffee as a profession, put your whole heart in it, and be willing to work hard,” says Chang. “You’ll need to have a childlike spirit, and the power to create.”
Chang Kuei Fang
Take, for example, a creation named mushroom milk tea. After sprinkling brown sugar over milk foam, the surface is blowtorched till caramelised for a nutty, toasty, and sweet flavour. Opening a café is a dream for many youngsters. How do you turn a dream into reality? “Whatever catches your fancy, aside from reading up, you need to experience them firsthand.”
cinnamon apple scones
To create a coffee that is solely hers, she searches for the best beans from Panama, and roasts them herself. “Anyone can brew coffee. In fact, even guests have a good command nowadays,” says Chang. “So how do you find your own colours? It’s all down to your power of creation.”
Adapted from the
Sep Oct 18 issue of Cuisine & Wine.
