Why Some Café Owners in China Are Cold and Distant

It is not their initial intention.

We may often wonder why the owners of independent coffee shops— known locally as zhuliren 主理人 — can seem cold or distant — especially in Shanghai.

Many consumers might complain about this—in theory, a café should value service, be warm, and be good at chatting with customers to build a warm connection.

I know, and trust me, most café owners initially …