SCANNOW 城市編輯室-心度探索（Deep Dive）- Humain Coffee

店主的話

「Humain Coffee」的誕生，並非源於一個長遠的商業計劃，而是一個時代的縮影。在疫情最嚴峻的第二波，當創辦人Hing所任職的公司宣布即將關閉，突如其來的變故讓他們必須為自己安排後路。在周遭大環境人手緊縮、連找一個兼職位置都求助無門的困境下，他們與舊同事們商議，最終萌生了開設一間咖啡店的念頭。這個看似被動的決定，卻成為他們勇敢開創自己事業的起點。

如果用三個詞來形容「Humain Coffee」的品牌精神，Hing選擇了：「樸實無華」、「日就月將」和「有內涵」。這不只是對咖啡館的期許，也是對自身在創業路上的提醒：不追求浮誇的裝飾，只專注於咖啡最真實的本質；相信只要每日累積，就能持續進步；而真正的價值，來自於產品和理念深處的「內涵」。

創業初期，他們所承受的壓力並非來自單一事件，而是無數不如意事情的堆疊。疫情衝擊下接手的頂讓生意不甚理想，加上接收後發現內部基建存在各種問題，大大小小不斷擾亂營運和心情。此外，選擇了在咖啡範疇中相對小眾的方向，更讓他們在香港這個營商環境本就艱難的地方，面臨更大的挑戰。

然而，Hing並沒有真正想過放棄。在思緒混亂、情緒夾雜的時候，他們提醒自己：要放下對結果過度的追求，專注處理好眼前一個又一個的問題。這份腳踏實地的「甘苦匠人」精神，成為他們繼續堅持下去的動力。

品牌故事

一杯連結人與人的美味橋樑Humain 的意義：美味與人情味的連結

「Humain Coffee」這個名字本身就蘊含著品牌的哲學。它是英文 Human（人）和日文「Umai」（美味的日文拼音）的結合，背後的意義是建立連結。

他們希望透過美味的產品，成為一座連結人與人之間的橋樑：連結店員與顧客、顧客與顧客、甚至顧客與產品本身。他們深信，這種「1+1大於2」的連結，會讓顧客在產品體驗上獲得更多溫度、回憶與感受。

對抗浮華：回歸味道的本質

在充斥著潮流與「打卡」文化的飲食界，「Humain Coffee」倡導的是一種反璞歸真的理念。Hing觀察到，現今許多顧客光顧食店，大多是基於社交媒體的資訊或潮流趨勢，卻少有時間細味產品蘊含的真實品質與內涵。

因此，他們希望顧客能回歸到最純粹的飲與食上，用心去感受產品的味道與內涵。他們相信，當人願意放下表面的追逐，專注於品嚐時，就能感受到他們出品中那份有質素和內涵的誠意。

本地創作的價值：文化與傳承的載體

對於「本地創作」與「手作」在這個城市的位置，Hing認為其角色至關重要。本地創作體現了當地的文化，承載著前人的經驗、技術、知識與回憶，是一種對下一代的傳承。這些點滴匯聚成河，最終形成一個地方的獨特文化和風土人情。

靈感的泉源與品牌的歌:甘苦匠人

當創作靈感枯竭時，主理人不會強迫自己，而是選擇「出外走走」——周圍探討、體驗不同的店、觀察別人正在做的事，或是單純地放空休息，做一些與工作無關的事情。他們相信，當身心休息過後，發掘到一些賞心悅目的事物或產品，靈感就會自然地被觸發。

如果品牌是一首歌，那便是 林一峰的《甘苦匠人》，這首歌更是以「Humain Coffee」的故事為藍本所創作。它唱出了創業路上的甘與苦，也完美詮釋了品牌那份樸實、堅持、有內涵的匠人精神。

咖啡豆的奇遇：連結人與人的緣分

在「Humain Coffee」，主理人一直致力於透過美味的咖啡與甜品，營造一個有人情味的連結。在這裡，他們見證了許多美好的互動。其中最令人印象深刻的，莫過於顧客之間的間接交流。

有一次，一位常客（A客人）提及在尋找一款特定的咖啡豆。雖然店內暫時沒有，但機緣巧合下，另一位客人（B客人）剛好從外地旅行回來，帶來了那款珍貴的咖啡豆與店員分享。店員隨即通知了A客人，當A客人前來品嚐後感到無比驚喜和開心，並主動提出希望為B客人下次到店時，請客享用一份甜品或咖啡，以表達謝意。這種溫暖的「咖啡豆的奇遇」，讓兩個本不相識的人因為咖啡而建立起間接而美好的聯繫。

由於店員會推著手沖車在客人面前沖煮咖啡，這種近距離的互動也常成為連結的橋樑。隔壁桌的客人有時會因為看到手沖過程而開啟話題，即使互不認識，也能因為對咖啡的共同興趣而聊得十分投契，分享彼此的用餐體驗和咖啡知識。這些美好的畫面，正是「Humain Coffee」一直以來希望營造和看見的。

活在當下：感受每一刻的體驗

「Humain Coffee」的品牌理念，與「活在當下」的精神不謀而合。他們希望每一位來到店裡的客人，都能透過味覺上的感受，享受當下那一刻的純粹體驗，讓美好的感受沉澱成為個人的回憶，而不是僅僅停留在表面。

A Message from the Founder

The genesis of "Humain Coffee" was not a long-term business plan, but rather a reflection of its time. During the second and most severe wave of the pandemic, when the company where founder Hing worked announced its imminent closure, the sudden change compelled the team to find a new path. Faced with a shrinking job market where even a part-time position was hard to secure, Hing and his former colleagues decided to embark on a new venture: opening a coffee shop. What seemed like a passive decision at the time became the brave starting point of their own business.

To describe the spirit of "Humain Coffee," Hing chose three guiding principles: Unadorned Simplicity,Continuous Improvement, and Substance. These are not just aspirations for the café, but also reminders for their entrepreneurial journey: to eschew superficial flair and focus on the coffee's true essence; to believe that daily effort leads to continuous progress; and that genuine value lies in the depth and substance of the product and its philosophy.

The pressures of the initial phase were not caused by a single event, but by a discouraging accumulation of setbacks. The café's takeover occurred during a severe wave of the pandemic, leading to poor initial sales. Furthermore, internal structural issues discovered after the handover constantly disrupted operations and morale. Choosing a relatively niche direction within the already challenging Hong Kong food and beverage market only compounded their difficulties.

Yet, Hing never seriously considered giving up. When thoughts were muddled and emotions were high, the founders reminded themselves to let go of the excessive pursuit of results and focus on tackling one immediate problem after another. This down-to-earth spirit, encapsulated by the phrase "The Bittersweet Craftsman," became the fuel for their ongoing persistence.

Brand Story

The Meaning of Humain: A Link of Deliciousness and Human Touch

The name "Humain Coffee" itself contains the brand's philosophy. It is a portmanteau of the English word Human and the Japanese phonetic for delicious, Umai. The underlying meaning is connection.

The team aspires to use their delicious products as a bridge: connecting staff with customers, customers with other customers, and even customers with the products themselves. They deeply believe that this "one plus one is greater than two" (1+1 \> 2) connection will enrich the customer's product experience with more warmth, memory, and feeling.

The Essence of Flavor Over Fleeting Trends

In a dining industry saturated with trends and the "check-in" culture, "Humain Coffee" advocates a philosophy of returning to basics. Hing observed that many patrons visit establishments based on social media buzz, often spending little time truly savoring the quality and substance within the product.

Therefore, they hope customers can return to the purest act of eating and drinking, and wholeheartedly experience the product's taste and substance. They are confident that when people choose to put aside superficial pursuits and focus on the tasting experience, they will feel the sincere quality and depth in their offerings.

The Serendipity of a Coffee Bean: Connecting Strangers

The founders have always strived to foster a human connection through their delicious coffee and desserts. They have witnessed many beautiful interactions, with indirect communication between customers being particularly memorable.

On one occasion, a regular customer (Customer A) mentioned they were looking for a specific coffee bean. While the shop didn't have it at the moment, another customer (Customer B) happened to return from a trip with that very rare bean and shared it with the staff. The staff immediately notified Customer A, who was overjoyed after tasting it and proactively offered to treat Customer B to a dessert or coffee on their next visit as a token of thanks. This warm "Serendipity of a Coffee Bean" established a beautiful, indirect link between two people who didn't know each other.

Furthermore, the team prepares pour-over coffee on a mobile cart right in front of the customers, making the close-range interaction a frequent bridge for connection. Customers at neighboring tables often strike up conversations after witnessing the brewing process, sharing their dining experiences and coffee knowledge, a joyful sight that "Humain Coffee" always hoped to foster.

The Value of Local Creation: A Vessel for Culture and Heritage

Regarding the place of "local creations" and "handicrafts" in this city, Hing believes their role is crucial. Local creations embody the local culture, carrying the experience, technology, knowledge, and memories of predecessors, acting as a form of heritage passed down to the next generation. These small efforts coalesce into a river, ultimately shaping the unique culture and local character of the place.

Source of Inspiration and the Brand's Song

When creative inspiration runs dry, the founders do not force it. They choose to "go out and explore"—visiting different shops, observing what others are doing, or simply relaxing and engaging in unrelated activities. They believe that after a period of rest, encountering something pleasing or a quality product will naturally trigger new inspiration.

If the brand were a song, it would be Yatfung Lam's -The Bittersweet Craftsman , a piece that was actually written based on the café's story. It sings of the joys and hardships of the entrepreneurial journey and perfectly embodies the brand's spirit of simplicity, persistence, and inner substance.

Living in the Present: Savoring Every Pure Experience

The brand's philosophy is aligned with the concept of "living in the moment." The founders hope that every person who comes to the café can, through their sense of taste, enjoy the pure experience of that very moment, allowing the beautiful feeling to settle into a personal memory rather than just remaining a fleeting, superficial impression.