Journey Kaffe 覺旅咖啡 - Escaping the Humidity: Five Hours in a No-Time-Limit Cafe

Taipei’s summer heat drives many students and remote workers into air-conditioned cafes to spend the afternoon. With comfortable seating, great coffee, and full meals, these places make it easy to set up a laptop or textbook and hang out for hours. It’s easily one of the best parts of living and working in the city.

One afternoon, it was raining on and off in Taipei. If you live in Taiwan, you know that when the rain stops, it gets so hot and humid you just sweat nonstop, so the only place you want to be is an air-conditioned room with comfortable seats. This is where Journey Kaffe comes in: a spacious cafe perfectly designed for remote work, studying, and relaxed dining.

They were one of the first cafes to set a no-time-limit rule, and when you go in, you’ll notice there are loads of power outlets built into the floor. Every single table has access to them, it's as if they are actively encouraging you to stay all day. The seats are so comfortable that you really could sit there continuously. When I was there, there was absolutely no pressure from the staff whatsoever. It was so relaxing that the couple sitting opposite me were playing video games, with one of them lying down on the sofa. They had also brought their cat along, which at one point escaped and hid under the sofa I was sitting on to take a nap. I hadn’t noticed, so it was very funny when the owner came over, deeply apologetic, to tell me his cat was under my seat. It was actually very cute and memorable.

Photo by Richard Elliott

You can scan the QR code on the table, order the food you like, and pay with a credit card. Then, when you hear the bell and your number appears on the screen, you simply go up and collect your meal. There is hardly any interaction with the staff at all. The only issue I ran into was that my UK credit card didn’t work through the app; if you run into a similar problem, you can just order at the counter and pay in cash. Keep this in mind if you don’t have a local Taiwanese credit card.

Journey Kaffe has a wide range of coffees, pastries, pastas, salads, and wraps. One of the most unique features of this place is that you can make your own pizzas and smoothies. You order the DIY kit at the counter, and they provide all the ingredients and utensils you need. There is a large kitchen area equipped with ovens and everything else required to prepare your own food. I’ve never seen a cafe setup quite like this before.

Photo by Richard Elliott

I didn’t make my own pizza this time around. Instead, I ordered the Spicy Tomato and Chicken Pasta Bowl (番茄辣味雞肉麵Fān qié là wèi jī ròu miàn) and the Chicken Caesar Salad (凱薩雞肉沙拉Kǎi sà jī ròu shā lā). The portions were very generous. For the pasta, the chicken was tender with a nice Mediterranean flavour, and the tomato sauce had a good kick from the chilli. If I had one complaint, it would be that the pasta was a little too soft for my liking—I prefer it slightly more al-dente. The Chicken Caesar Salad was a great complement to the pasta. The salad was fresh, served with broccoli, pumpkin, tomatoes, topped with cheese, and featured tender, flavourful chicken. Both dishes felt very wholesome and satisfying.

Photo by Richard Elliott

Because I was planning to stay for a few hours, I wanted to try their desserts as well. I went with the Brownie Cheesecake (布朗尼起司蛋糕Bù lǎng ní qǐ sī dàn gāo) and the Apple Crumble (燕麥烤蘋果Yàn mài kǎo píng guǒ). The brownie was delicious; soft, rich, and full of chocolate flavour. It had a subtle hint of cream cheese that wasn't overpowering, making it a great pairing for a cup of black coffee. The apple crumble was also quite decent. Coming from the UK, it doesn’t quite beat the homemade versions I’m used to, but the crumble had a nice texture—neither too hard nor too soft—that complemented the sweet, cooked apples underneath. It would be even better if served hot with the option of ice cream or hot custard, but I’m being strict here! It’s still enjoyable on its own.

For drinks, I tried the Banana & Berry Smoothie (香蕉野莓奶昔Xiāng jiāo yě méi nǎi xī) and the Avocado Latte (酪梨拿鐵咖啡Lào lí ná tiě kā fēi). The Banana & Berry Smoothie was fantastic. The fruit tasted remarkably fresh, and you could really taste every flavor coming through. The consistency wasn’t too thick or too thin, it was just right and felt incredibly refreshing. Unfortunately, the same couldn't be said for the Avocado Latte. The taste was acceptable, but I personally don’t think avocado and coffee pair well together. It tasted like a high-quality drink, but it arrived lukewarm and could have used more ice to give it a colder, crisper edge.

Photo by Richard Elliott

All in all, the food and drinks are enjoyable. While there are small areas that could be improved, it’s a solid spot. Prices are slightly higher than your typical coffee shop around Taipei, but the peaceful, spacious atmosphere and the freedom to stay as long as you like make it well worth the money.

After spending around five hours at Journey Kaffe, I left feeling restored by the food and drink. By the time evening came around, the Taipei summer air was much cooler and drier—and for that, I was thoroughly grateful to Journey Kaffe.

Photo by Richard Elliott