{"id":17168,"date":"2025-04-02T22:46:36","date_gmt":"2025-04-02T14:46:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/solright.co\/archives\/17168"},"modified":"2025-04-06T22:46:09","modified_gmt":"2025-04-06T14:46:09","slug":"story-%ef%bc%9afrom-cargo-bike-to-coffee-bar-rurus-journey","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/solright.co\/en\/archives\/17168","title":{"rendered":"[ Story ]\uff1aFrom Cargo Bike to Coffee Bar: Ruru’s Journey"},"content":{"rendered":"

“Bike to work and get a free coffee!” It might sound like a trendy marketing campaign today, but a few years ago in Taipei, it was a real thing. Every Friday morning, commuters who rode their bikes and brought a reusable cup could swing by a metro station and get a fresh hand-brewed coffee from Ruru \u2014 now the owner of Recycle Cargo Coffee.<\/span><\/p>\n

Everything from beans, a grinder, dripper, to a scale was packed into his cargo bike, ready before the morning rush. And even though the coffee was free, Ruru never cut corners. He roasted the beans himself and brewed with tools he trusted. Years of hands-on experience helped him bring out the full flavor of the coffee, even while brewing on the street.<\/span><\/p>\n

Bikes, Beans, and a Lot of Curiosity<\/b><\/h2>\n

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Ruru’s love for bikes and coffee came from simple beginnings. He first got into biking for commuting and environmental reasons, starting with a STRiDA folding bike. But after getting passed by too many riders at the riverside, he upgraded to a stylish single-speed bike and started geeking out over bike parts.<\/span><\/p>\n

Through that journey, he met like-minded cyclists and joined the early days of Taipei\u2019s city cycling community. Weekend rides turned into coffee chats, and the crew eventually pitched the city government a fun idea: Bike to work, and get coffee. And that\u2019s how the free coffee campaign began.<\/span><\/p>\n

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His coffee journey followed a similar path. It started with curiosity. From Starbucks to indie cafes, Ruru wanted to understand more. He picked up roasting, starting with a second-hand machine, and logged every brew and roast in his mental flavor library. Eventually, he earned his SCA Roasting Certification and learned how to balance acidity, sweetness, body, and aroma into one delicious cup.<\/span><\/p>\n

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From Market Stand to Brick-and-Mortar<\/b><\/h2>\n

After the bike-to-coffee program wrapped up, Ruru set up a small pour-over stand in a local market. But it didn\u2019t go as planned\u2014locals preferred lattes and darker roasts. When his lease was up, he took over a small space near Zhongshan MRT and finally had a home base for his coffee dreams.<\/span><\/p>\n

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And yes, the same Omnium cargo bike that once delivered free coffee now sits proudly in the shop. In fact, the name “Recycle Cargo Coffee” is a playful nod to his biking roots (“cargo” in Chinese sounds like “kagou”)<\/span><\/p>\n

Every day, Ruru still bikes to the shop and brews cups with heart, inviting people to come in, stay a while, and just enjoy.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Brewing with the Solright DB-1<\/b><\/h2>\n

When Ruru brews coffee, bitterness is the first thing he checks for. If it\u2019s too strong, he backs off. Then comes acidity\u2014whether it\u2019s bright and fruity or rich like dried plum, the acid must feel pleasant and smooth. A coffee can be bold, but never harsh.<\/span><\/p>\n

That\u2019s where grind precision comes in. For serious coffee lovers, grind size makes all the difference. The Solright DB-1 grinder comes with a user-friendly external dial and sharp 38mm stainless steel conical burrs. This helps create an even grind that brings out natural sweetness and clarity in every cup.
To put it to the test, we asked Ruru to brew with his in-house blend “Mountain Mist” using the DB-1.<\/span><\/p>\n

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