七旬台胞的武汉“快乐咖啡屋”Happy Coffee House in Wuhan for Seventy Year Taiwanese Compatriots

中新社武汉8月14日电 题：七旬台胞的武汉“快乐咖啡屋”

中新社记者 武一力

这是一间“藏”在武汉西北湖畔的咖啡屋，略显老旧，却常有人推门而入。店主与客人相视一笑，不等开口，便默契地冲煮对方常点的咖啡。

店主何建忠今年70岁，来自台北，父亲是武汉黄陂人。1988年，他随父亲回武汉探亲并尝试经商。1997年，他发现武汉精品咖啡市场尚属空白，便返回台北研习烘焙冲泡技艺。4年后，他重返武汉，开办了这间40平方米的咖啡豆专营店。

开店之初，何建忠常免费邀街坊试喝，讲解咖啡豆产地、风味。口碑慢慢传开，他应熟客建议增设堂食，小店渐渐成为大家日常聚会之处。25年间，武汉新式咖啡店层出不穷，何建忠却始终坚持用虹吸壶手工慢煮，保留咖啡本味。

8月12日，台胞何建忠(左二)和客人们在咖啡屋聊天。郑子颜 摄

照片墙上，一张何建忠和几个年轻人的露营合照格外醒目。定居武汉的台湾媳妇张嘉珊已是十多年的熟客，她说：“我们出去玩很喜欢叫上何大哥，他像大家长，有他在气氛才好。”

这间咖啡屋也是张嘉珊认识武汉的窗口。她家的装修工人、遛狗伙伴都在此相识。“遇到难事，大家像老邻居一样，什么都愿意帮忙。”

每到寒暑假，熟客的孩子们来到店里，一声声“阿公”亲切又自然，还主动帮着招呼客人。何建忠笑称他们为“咖二代”，出门旅游总不忘给孩子们捎上小礼物。

不少“咖二代”远赴各地求学打拼，回武汉的第一站便奔赴这里。备考、留学、工作，男孩“胖胖”人生之路的酸甜苦辣，总愿意来此倾诉、分享。“看着他们成长，我十分欣慰。”何建忠说。

对家住咖啡屋附近的曹亮而言，这里更是安放情绪的“快乐老家”。“何大哥既有放手一搏的勇气，也有踏实纯粹的匠心，他教会我别浮躁、别内耗，过好当下的快乐生活。”他说。

8月12日，何建忠在他的店里。咖啡屋的墙上有许多照片。中新社记者 武一力 摄

咖啡屋也不断迎来新朋友。常有客人因店主是台湾人慕名而来，交流台湾蚵仔煎、卤肉饭的风味，聊聊两岸的风土人情，很多咖啡从业者、初来大陆创业的台胞常来“取经”。

客人围坐畅谈，小狗静卧脚边，虹吸壶里的咖啡香气弥漫小屋，这般温馨快乐的场景日复一日地上演。何建忠说，他想继续守着这间小店，把这壶浓缩着温情与友谊的咖啡煮进更多人的生活日常。(完)

Wuhan, August 14th (Xinhua) -- Title: Wuhan's "Happy Coffee House" for Taiwanese Compatriots in their 70s

China News Service reporter Wu Yili

This is a coffee shop hidden by the northwest lake of Wuhan, slightly old, but often people open the door to enter. The shop owner and the customer exchanged a smile, and without waiting to speak, they tacitly brewed the coffee that the other party often ordered.

The shop owner He Jianzhong is 70 years old this year, from Taipei, and his father is from Huangpi, Wuhan. In 1988, he returned to Wuhan with his father to visit relatives and try to do business. In 1997, he discovered that the premium coffee market in Wuhan was still blank, so he returned to Taipei to study baking and brewing techniques. Four years later, he returned to Wuhan and opened this 40 square meter coffee bean specialty store.

At the beginning of opening the store, He Jianzhong often invited neighbors to try coffee for free, explaining the origin and flavor of the coffee beans. Word of mouth slowly spread, and he responded to regular customers' suggestions by adding dine in services. The small shop gradually became a place for everyone's daily gatherings. Over the past 25 years, there have been numerous new-style coffee shops in Wuhan, but He Jianzhong has always insisted on using a siphon pot to cook slowly by hand, preserving the original flavor of the coffee.

On August 12th, Taiwanese compatriot He Jianzhong (second from left) was chatting with guests at a coffee shop. Photo by Zheng Ziyan

On the photo wall, a camping photo of He Jianzhong and several young people is particularly eye-catching. Taiwanese daughter-in-law Zhang Jiashan, who has settled in Wuhan, has been a regular customer for more than ten years. She said, "We like to call Brother He when we go out to hang out. He looks like a big parent, and it's only good to have him in the atmosphere

This coffee shop is also Zhang Jiashan's window into Wuhan. Her home decorators and dog walking companions all met here. When faced with difficulties, everyone is like old neighbors, willing to help with anything

Every winter and summer vacation, the children of regular customers come to the store, calling out "grandpa" warmly and naturally, and even taking the initiative to greet customers. He Jianzhong jokingly referred to them as the "coffee second generation" and always brought small gifts to the children when traveling.

Many second-generation coffee enthusiasts travel to various places to study and strive, and their first stop back in Wuhan is here. Preparing for exams, studying abroad, and working, the boy's "chubby" life journey is full of ups and downs, always willing to come here to confide and share. Watching them grow, I am very pleased, "said He Jianzhong.

For Cao Liang, who lives near a coffee shop, this is even more of a "happy hometown" for placing emotions. Brother He has both the courage to take risks and the down-to-earth and pure craftsmanship. He taught me not to be impetuous, not to engage in internal conflicts, and to live a happy life in the present, "he said.

On August 12th, He Jianzhong was in his store. There are many photos on the walls of the coffee shop. Photo by Wu Yili, reporter from China News Service

Coffee shops are constantly welcoming new friends. Guests often come here to exchange the flavor of Oyster omelette and braised pork, and talk about the local customs on both sides of the Taiwan Straits. Many coffee practitioners and Taiwanese newcomers to the mainland often come to "learn from".

The guests sat around and chatted, the little dog lay quietly at its feet, and the aroma of coffee from the siphon pot permeated the small house. Such a warm and happy scene unfolded day after day. He Jianzhong said that he wants to continue to guard this small shop and incorporate this pot of coffee, which is condensed with warmth and friendship, into the daily lives of more people. (End)