Creating Community in Hong Kong: Today is Long
Today is Long (TIL), is a cafe located in the Sai Ying Pun district on Hong Kong island. TIL stands out from Sai Ying Pun’s concrete facade, with it’s bright, terracotta exteriors, done in semi - circular forms reminiscent of the Australian sunsets, and Uluru in Northern Territory, Australia. Owners Gary Wong and Michelle Miu wanted to pay homage to his time spent living in Australia, and decided to set up the Australian style cafe as a space to share these treasured memories with local community, and through Australian cafe culture - ensuring great, quality coffee is made accessible to everyone. While Wong focused on the coffee program, Miu worked on ensuring the cafe interiors made for an inspiring experience.
The interiors are inviting: large glass windows invite nature light in, high ceilings and white walls. All seek to provide a comfortable environment for customers. The coffee served at Today is Long reflects this belief, with their espresso using Melbourne specialty roaster Small Batch’s Candyman Espresso blend. With notes of macadamia and malted milk, the espresso served is one that is sweet and balanced, and tastes great with or without milk.
The coffee menu reflects a sensitivity towards customers: one can choose from the ‘Short Day’ or ‘Long Day’ selection, where there are beverages with less caffeine in the former, and coffee with a combination of shots, served as pour over or cold brew - for those who may need a caffeine jolt for the day ahead. They also feature beverages served typically at Australian cafes - such as Magic, and the Long Mac Topped Up (LMTU). Wong explained that he became a barista in Perth in 2011, starting out at Spring Espresso in Subiaco. It was there he encountered through his training, not just flat whites, lattes - but also of course Perth’s very LMTU. Thus, he wanted to showcase at TIL unique and distinct Australian coffee creations - also, to pay homage to Perth, where the LMTU is originated.
As the LMTU is made differently at cafes, TIL serves a LMTU as a double espresso with milk topped up in a 4oz cup. Wong believes this is the right way to present LMTU - replacing a standard piccolo glass with custom made ceramic cups. This focus on hospitality is reflected in how the baristas personally explain to the customer the cup sizes coffee is served in, and that the LMTU is a double espresso with little milk topped up, and meant as a strong milk coffee. This personable approach creates an intimate, close relation between barista and customer, creating a community around good coffee.
The attention to detail is seen even in the after life of coffee grains: TIL seeks to integrate sustainability practices, with waste coffee grains used as fertiliser for plants rather than being thrown out. Inside TIL, both ends of the cafe are flanked by bench seats that face each other, enhancing moments of interaction and contributing to an overall sense of community.
At the moment, Wong and Miu hope to open another location that is suitable for the TIL concept, with more space for the cafe to grow. While Wong thinks that the coffee industry in Hong Kong is growing a little too fast, there is a space for intimate, neighbourhood spaces such as TIL to thrive, possibly bringing more quiet and appreciative spaces within the cafe scene in Hong Kong today.
Today is Long-TIL
180 Queen’s Road West,
Sai Ying Pun, Western District G/F
Kin Hing Building,
Hong Kong China