Beijing’s Hey Coffee: A Self-Service Coffee Convenience Store

In the bustling streets of Beijing’s Chaowai SOHO, it’s easy to walk right past a tiny shop that could change how you think about getting coffee. Tucked into the ground floor retail space, Hey Coffee looks more like a sleek urban kiosk than a traditional café—but it’s quietly doing something no other coffee shop in China has attempted: operating as the country’s first fully self-service coffee convenience store.

Hey Coffee combines a retail shop with a smart coffee bar—letting customers brew their own espresso-based drinks using a tablet-controlled machine, all while stocking global coffee gear, fresh-roast beans, and drip bags. It’s a one-stop shop for coffee lovers who want quality without the usual café markup.

What Is Hey Coffee?

Hey Coffee calls itself a “coffee convenience store,” a concept inspired by the small-format, high-accessibility retail model common in the U.S. Founder Jennifer wanted a space where coffee was the central product—but not just as a drink. “It’s a retail shop built around coffee,” she explains. That means you can buy freshly roasted beans, pour-over equipment, and even accessories, all under one roof.

The Smart Coffee Machine: No Barista Needed

The centerpiece of Hey Coffee is its Danish-made TopBrewer smart coffee machine—the only machine in the world that connects directly to your smartphone or tablet. Instead of a traditional espresso machine interface, there’s just a clean water tap on the counter. Customers select their drink via an iPad, choosing everything from coffee volume to milk foam thickness. The machine produces all classic espresso-based drinks, and you can customize each cup. It even allows free additions of concentrated espresso and flavored syrups. No staff needed, just tap and go.

Coffee, Gear, and Fresh Roasts

Beyond the smart machine, Hey Coffee stocks a carefully curated selection of products for coffee enthusiasts. The shop offers single-origin beans sourced directly from global growing regions, roasted locally, and guaranteed to be within 30 days of roast date—a key freshness benchmark for specialty coffee. Popular items also include drip bags, Japanese Hario gear, American Bonavita products (the official brand of the World Brewers Cup), and Australian KeepCup reusable tumblers. The store also stocks hard-to-find international items like the Minipresso portable espresso maker, Imperss cups, and acaia smart scales. Stock moves fast; some beans sell out within a day.

Education and Community

Hey Coffee isn’t just a place to buy coffee—it’s a hub for learning. The shop regularly hosts coffee salons and brewing workshops, where customers can try different brewing methods and deepen their understanding of coffee. Whether you’re curious about pour-over techniques or want to explore espresso customization, these sessions aim to make specialty coffee approachable for everyone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Hey Coffee located in Beijing?

Hey Coffee is located at Chaowai SOHO, Unit A, Suite 0112, in Beijing’s Chaoyang District. The shop is tucked into the ground floor retail area, easily accessible but easy to miss among the busy surroundings.

What makes Hey Coffee different from other cafés?

Hey Coffee is China’s first fully self-service coffee convenience store. It combines a retail shop with a smart, app-controlled espresso machine—no baristas required. Customers can customize their drinks, buy fresh beans, and purchase global coffee equipment all in one place.

Do I need to know how to use the TopBrewer machine?

No special skills are needed. The TopBrewer is controlled via a tablet or iPad interface. You simply choose your preferred drink settings—including coffee volume and milk foam thickness—and the machine does the rest. It’s designed for complete user control with no training required.

Are the coffee beans at Hey Coffee freshly roasted?

Yes. Hey Coffee only sells single-origin and specialty coffee beans that are roasted locally and guaranteed to be within 30 days of roast date. Some popular beans may sell out within a day, so availability is limited.

What coffee equipment can I find at Hey Coffee?

The store carries a range of international coffee gear including Japanese Hario products, American Bonavita (official brand of the World Brewers Cup), Australian KeepCup tumblers, Minipresso portable espresso makers, Imperss cups, acaia smart scales, and more. Many items are early releases not yet widely available in China.

Does Hey Coffee offer coffee classes or events?

Yes. Hey Coffee regularly hosts coffee salons and brewing workshops. These events are open to customers who want to learn about different brewing methods, improve their skills, and explore more about specialty coffee culture.

Recommended FrontStreet Coffee for Home Brewing

For fans of Hey Coffee’s fresh approach, try FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Humbera—bright with citrus and floral notes—or Yirgacheffe, offering juicy berry and stone fruit tones. Both are single-origin, light-to-medium roasts ideal for pour-over or Aeropress, reflecting the same freshness and origin focus as Hey Coffee’s in-store beans. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.