Hong Kong’s café scene is abuzz with excitement as 193, a member of the popular Canto-pop boy band Error, has embarked on his first F&B venture—Tanuki Coffee. Here, the singer discusses his inspirations behind the stylish café in To Kwa Wan and what it was like working with his friends for the launch
Walk along the streets lined with industrial blocks and small local shops in To Kwa Wan and, just past a hidden alleyway, an airy café comes into sight. That’s Tanuki Coffee—the latest culinary gem in the bustling neighbourhood.
Helmed by 193 (his moniker refers to his height; his real name is Denis Kwok) a member of the popular Hong Kong boy band Error, Tanuki Coffee already gained a cult following even before its official launch on Sunday 10 April, owing to the singer’s fame. But the café does not rest on its celebrity appeal; beyond its Instagrammable interiors and cool branded merch, the café delivers for those serious about their brew, with excellent coffee blends and delicious food vying for attention.
"Launching a unique café concept with friends has always been my dream,” says 193. “Tanuki Coffee is not your average celebrity-owned shop, but more as an expression of love for coffee shared between me and my friends. It’s designed to be a welcome respite from the city’s stresses.”
We recently sat down with the singer and his team to discuss the inspiration for Tanuki Coffee, how did the project go from a pipe dream to a reality, and what makes their coffee shop so unique in Hong Kong's ever-growing café scene.
Read more: All the New Cafes and Brunch Spots to Visit This April 2022
How did the idea of the café come about?
I’ve always enjoyed visiting new cafes with my friends. Whether it’s getting a caffeine fix in Hong Kong or travelling around to Korea and Japan to explore their coffee culture, our love affair with coffee has been ongoing for many years. In Hong Kong’s ever-growing dining scene, we see there’s no shortage of coffee shops. Some of the ideas in these places were really cool, but the execution was not that good. I wondered: "Why don't we capitalise on our passion for coffee by starting our own restaurant business to give a breath of fresh air to the existing café scene?"
And that's how Tanuki Coffee was born. We want to create a space that’s well-designed with unique interiors, tasting food and great coffee, offering a relaxing café experience that we ourselves would love to enjoy every day.
What role do you and your partners play in the business?
We are really good friends and have known each other for a very long time. We’ve been constantly looking at ideas for launching a café that speaks to our personality, but it wasn’t until recent years that we finally put our thoughts into action, bringing Tanuki Coffee to life. Opening a restaurant during the pandemic comes with tons of challenges that we were forced to postpone the opening date and work around the dining restrictions. Slowly but surely, we did manage to get through the tough times and launched our business.
Speaking of team collaboration, it's been a great combination of our skills and personalities. I’m acting as a PR who looks after our connections with the press and influencers, while my other three partners are bringing the best of their F&B experiences and vast knowledge of coffee to create our brand.