Cafe Kao: Settling Life into a Cup of Coffee in Meilun, Hualien
In the residential streets of Meilun, Hualien, Cafe Kao does not stand out.
There are no flashy signs, and it’s not on the typical tourist path. Unless you are specifically searching for “best coffee in Meilun, Hualien,” most people might simply pass by. But once you push open the door, you quickly understand why this place is repeatedly mentioned among regulars.
This isn’t a place that demands to impress you; it’s a place that invites you to stay.
A Journey Not Started for Entrepreneurship
The owner of Cafe Kao didn’t initially plan to open a shop in Hualien.
Like many others, he once worked in the city, his life carved up by schedules and efficiency. Coffee, at that stage, was just a tool—something to keep him awake and get him through long working hours.
Until a certain point, he realized that while he drank coffee every day, he rarely actually “sat down to have a cup of coffee.”
It wasn’t about the flavor, but a gap in his state of being.
Coffee was supposed to be a time to return to one’s own pace, yet in the city, it was used to accelerate life.
This contradiction slowly built into a question:
If life cannot slow down, then what exactly is all the effort for?
Hualien: Not an Escape, but a Realignment of Life
Hualien isn’t a romantic “escape from the city” option; it’s a place where one must face reality.
Distinct peak and off-peak seasons, a limited customer base, and less convenience than the city. But precisely because of this, it offers a possibility rarely found in urban areas—letting life return to a human scale.
The first place the owner truly stopped to live was Meilun.
This is a residential area with schools, markets, and a steady daily rhythm. It doesn’t exist to be watched; it exists for life itself.
He began to think: if a shop were to exist, it should be in a place like this, rather than just catering to travelers.
“Kao” (High) and “Yu” (Dwelling): The Name Itself is a Life Choice
“Cafe Kao” is not a marketing name.
“Yu” implies a dwelling or a place to settle; “Kao” is not about height, but a stance toward life—not settling for less, not being ostentatious, and not changing oneself just to fit in.
This is a shop the owner is willing to walk into every day, and a place where he hopes he can stay for a long time.
Cafe Kao isn’t meant to be a bustling social hub, but a space where one can sit for a long time, return repeatedly, and exist quietly.
Coffee Made to be Drunk Every Day
At Cafe Kao, coffee is treated very seriously but is never over-packaged.
The choice of beans is based on principles of being clean, balanced, and easy to drink. The flavor profile doesn’t seek to be loud; instead, it lets the acidity, sweetness, and mouthfeel unfold naturally. You might not be shocked by the first sip, but you will find yourself finishing the whole cup without even noticing.
This is exactly the owner’s ideal vision of coffee—
Not a show of skill, but a form of companionship.
Regulars often say that the coffee here “is very much like the personality of the shop.”
Quiet, unhurried, yet with a clear point of view.
The Space: A Blank Canvas for Living
The space at Cafe Kao isn’t designed specifically to be “Instagrammable,” but it is very suitable for sitting.
There is ample distance between tables, natural lighting, and restrained music. You can read, daze, or do nothing at all. The owner won’t actively disturb you, but if you speak up, he’s happy to share about coffee, life, or simply sit quietly with you as you finish your cup.
This sense of distance is the most charming part of Cafe Kao.
Opening a Shop is Choosing a Life Rhythm
The establishment of Cafe Kao isn’t a “successful startup story,” but a practice in “how to live.”
It’s not about not trying, but about putting effort into what truly matters;
It’s not about not working, but choosing how to work.
Opening a shop in Hualien isn’t easy, but the owner is willing to bear it, because this is the life he chose.