Li Zongsheng and Ashin Open Sweat & Tears Coffee & Guitar Shop

In September 2015, just before the opening of the Shanghai Simple Life Festival, a mysterious renovation project behind barricades outside Shanghai Xintiandi grabbed attention. The site—where two major creative brands had joined forces—piqued public curiosity. What, people wondered, could come from a collaboration between music icon Li Zongsheng and Mayday frontman Ashin?

Very simply: a one-of-a-kind lifestyle space named Sweat & Tears , combining a boutique guitar showroom with a specialty coffee cafe under one roof. It officially opened later that month as the mainland’s only retail location for Lee Guitars and a coffee destination overseen by a Taiwanese coffee champion.

What Is Sweat & Tears?

Sweat & Tears is more than a coffee shop—it’s a meticulously crafted lifestyle concept blending artisanal coffee, fine handcrafted guitars, and design-driven hospitality. Founded as a collaboration between music producer Li Zongsheng (through his guitar brand Lee Guitars) and Ashin (of Mayday, via his fashion and cafe brand StayReal Café), the space represents the shared values of craftsmanship, perseverance, and creative dedication from two veterans of Taiwan’s creative industries. The name “Sweat & Tears” is a deliberate bilingual expression—the English reflects the effort behind mastery, while the Chinese name (literally “to have practiced”) resonates with both languages’ deeper cultural meanings.

The Coffee Side: Expert Roasting and Equipment

Though the venture sprang from a musical partnership, coffee plays a serious role. StayReal Café, founded in 2011 by Ashin and designer Nunu , brought in World Barista Champion and GABEE founder Lin Dongyuan as a consultant to Sweat & Tears. Under his guidance, every detail of the coffee program is rigorously managed—from green bean selection and roasting to sensory training for baristas. The cafe serves coffee brewed using a La Marzocco GB5 and a showcase Victoria Arduino Black Eagle VA388, a machine often dubbed the “Lamborghini of espresso machines,” ensuring consistent, high-caliber extractions. The technical oversight guarantees that every cup meets exacting professional standards.

The Guitar Side: Handmade Instruments by Lee Guitars

Li Zongsheng founded Lee Guitars in 2002 after spending five years studying lutherie in Canada. His mission: to craft premium, handmade guitars tailored for musicians. The brand debuted its first standalone store in Taipei’s Eslite Spectrum in 2011 and later appeared at the 2014 Shanghai Simple Life Festival. Sweat & Tears marks Lee Guitars’ first official mainland China retail location. Visitors can explore and purchase some of the finest hand-built guitars created by Chinese craftspeople, each reflecting Li’s exacting standards in tone wood selection and construction. It’s a rare retail space where top-tier musical instruments are displayed alongside expertly brewed coffee.

Why This Collaboration Works

The partnership between Li Zongsheng and Ashin isn’t just a branding exercise. They’ve known each other since 1998, when Li discovered Mayday’s early demo of “Zhi Ming Yu Chun Jiao” and helped bring the band to Rock Records. Their collaboration on Sweat & Tears—seventeen years in the making—is their first joint project outside of music. Both men approach their crafts with the mindset of artisans: dedicated, detail-oriented, and deeply invested in their work. That shared ethos is woven into the very concept of the space, where coffee and guitars alike are treated as works of passion.

Menu Highlight: Black Sugar Pearl Milk Tea Pancake

Among the food offerings at Sweat & Tears is a signature dessert: the black sugar pearl milk tea pancake. While not directly related to coffee brewing, the item reflects the cafe’s broader commitment to quality and creative fusion. It joins a carefully curated menu designed to complement the premium coffee and sophisticated atmosphere. Like the coffee and guitars, the food is part of the overall sensory experience that defines the Sweat & Tears ethos.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the Sweat & Tears coffee and guitar shop located?

Sweat & Tears is located in Shanghai Xintiandi, right outside the entrance to the bustling shopping and dining district. Its exact address places it in proximity to other lifestyle and fashion venues, making it a natural destination for both coffee drinkers and music enthusiasts visiting Shanghai.

Is this the only Lee Guitars store in mainland China?

Yes. Sweat & Tears serves as the first and only official retail location for Lee Guitars on the Chinese mainland. Customers can find a curated selection of handcrafted guitars made by master luthiers, reflecting the brand’s Canadian-trained craftsmanship and Li Zongsheng’s personal oversight.

Who is the coffee consultant at Sweat & Tears?

The coffee program is overseen by Lin Dongyuan, founder of GABEE and a World Barista Champion. He advises on all aspects of the coffee offering, including bean selection, roasting, and barista training, using high-end equipment like the Victoria Arduino Black Eagle VA388 to ensure precision and quality.

What makes the coffee at Sweat & Tears different?

Coffee at Sweat & Tears is managed with professional-grade standards. The cafe uses a La Marzocco GB5 and a Victoria Arduino Black Eagle VA388, and every element of the brewing process is supervised by an award-winning coffee expert. This ensures a level of consistency and quality typically found in specialty cafes, not just casual venues.

Do they sell food at Sweat & Tears?

Yes, the cafe offers a small menu including a signature black sugar pearl milk tea pancake. The food complements the coffee and guitar-centric vibe, contributing to the overall artisanal and lifestyle-focused experience that defines the space.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Guitar Shop Coffee

Pair your guitar browsing at Sweat & Tears with FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Humbera—a bright, complex Ethiopian single origin with floral and citrus notes, perfect for highlighting craft brewing. For something deeper, try the PWN Golden Mandheling, a balanced Indonesian classic with sweet body and mild spice. Both beans showcase the kind of care in sourcing and roasting that mirrors the artisan spirit of both Lee Guitars and StayReal Café. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.