Journeys Within Travel Blog

Hong Kong’s vibrant coffee scene is set to converge at The Mills over two consecutive weekends in December with the inaugural Urban Brew Summit. This comprehensive festival, organized in partnership with local market curator Biugorbiumui, promises a large-scale celebration of all things coffee, complemented by music, art, and lifestyle experiences. Running from December 5-7 and again from December 12-14, the event aims to bring together industry professionals, enthusiasts, and casual consumers for a sophisticated yet fun exploration of global brew trends and local innovation.

Diverse Roasters and Culinary Delights Headline Event

The summit will feature a robust marketplace showcasing over 40 local and international vendors specializing in coffee, desserts, and lifestyle products. Featured international participants include Ghost Coffee and Plot Roasting from Tainan, alongside Japan’s Kyoto Express Coffee, offering attendees the opportunity to sample and purchase specialized beans and equipment from across Asia.

Adding to the experience, several in-house tenants at The Mills will introduce unique, limited-edition creations specifically for the festival. Highlights include Fleur’s black sesame Vienna coffee, Koko Coffee Roasters’ distinctive dirty tiramisu, and The Uniek’s light and airy cloud cappuccino. This culinary integration ensures a deep, localized flavor profile alongside global offerings.

Exclusive Workshops Offer Hands-On Coffee Mastery

For those seeking to refine their barista skills or simply appreciate the craft, the Urban Brew Summit has scheduled several engaging, hands-on workshops. A major draw is the Irish coffee tasting workshop led by Ricky Chan, the reigning Hong Kong Coffee in Good Spirit champion. This session provides participants with expert instruction on mastering the classic spiked coffee beverage.

Beyond professional tastings, attendees can sign up for practical skills sessions, such as My Little Coffee’s popular latte art workshops, offering step-by-step guidance on creating intricate foam designs. Koko Coffee Roasters will also provide exclusive roastery tours, demystifying the complex process of bean selection and roasting for those interested in the supply chain.

To maximize the festival experience, a limited-edition coffee passport is available for purchase at HK$160. This pass includes an eco-friendly tasting cup for reusable sampling, three vouchers valid for 50-80ml portions of coffee or dessert samples, and a complimentary latte art experience (valid only during the first weekend, Dec 5-7), or an alternative voucher for use at selected exclusive retailers.

Coffee Meets Fitness with Community Runs

Fusing the energy of coffee with fitness, The Mills has collaborated with the local group 777runclub to host two unique “coffee runs” during the festival weekends. On December 6, participants are invited to bring their pets for a specialized pet-friendly running event. On December 13, the run transforms into a scavenger hunt style challenge across The Mills complex. Both runs conclude with a celebratory Sunset Coffee Rave, featuring DJs spinning classic Cantopop tracks to keep the festive mood going post-exercise.

The Urban Brew Summit serves as a definitive marker for Hong Kong’s growing appreciation for specialty coffee, moving beyond mere consumption to embrace the artistry, craftsmanship, and community surrounding the beverage. The event offers a comprehensive platform for discovery, learning, and celebration, cementing The Mills’ role as a key cultural hub in the city. Further details and tickets, including the coffee passport, are available on The Mills’ official website.

Hong Kong coffee aficionados and casual drinkers alike are invited to the Urban Brew Summit, a massive coffee, art, and lifestyle festival taking place at The Mills over two consecutive weekends in December. Hosted in collaboration with local market organizer Biugorbiumui, the event will run from December 5 to 7 and December 12 to 14, showcasing flavors from over 40 local and international brands, complemented by hands-on workshops, specialty menus, and vibrant social activities.

International Flavors and Local Delights at The Mills

The summit serves as a comprehensive celebration of global coffee culture, featuring a diverse array of over 40 participants spanning coffee roasters, lifestyle vendors, and dessert specialists. International representation includes notable brands such as Ghost Coffee and Plot Roasting, both hailing from Tainan, and Japan’s Kyoto Express Coffee. Attendees will have the opportunity to sample and purchase specialized products from these industry leaders.

Further enhancing the experience, tenants at The Mills are launching exclusive menu items specifically for the festival. Highlights include Fleur’s black sesame Vienna coffee, a distinctive dirty tiramisu from Koko Coffee Roasters, and The Uniek’s signature fluffy cloud cappuccino, offering unique local twists on classic coffeehouse fare.

Hands-On Workshops and Expert Engagement

For those seeking to deepen their understanding of coffee craftsmanship, the Urban Brew Summit provides several educational opportunities led by industry experts.

A major feature is the Irish coffee tasting workshop, hosted by Hong Kong Coffee in Good Spirits champion, Ricky Chan. Tickets for this exclusive session are priced at $420 per person, offering participants insight into the nuanced preparation of high-quality coffee cocktails.

In addition to the tasting, festival-goers can sign up for:

• Latte Art Workshops offered by My Little Coffee.
• Roastery Tours hosted by Koko Coffee Roasters, providing a behind-the-scenes look at the coffee bean journey.

To maximize the festival experience, attendees can purchase a limited-edition Coffee Passport for $160. This passport includes an eco-friendly tasting cup, three vouchers redeemable for 50-80ml samples of coffee or desserts, and a bonus experience. For the first weekend (December 5-7), the bonus is a latte art-making session; alternatively, participants can select a voucher from exclusive retailers.

Coffee Runs and Sunset Raves

Beyond tasting and learning, the festival integrates fitness and community engagement through collaboration with local running group 777runclub. Two unique “coffee runs” are scheduled during the event:

1. Pet-Friendly Run: Held on December 6, participants are encouraged to bring their canine companions.
2. Scavenger Hunt: On December 13, runners can participate in a complex-wide scavenger hunt across The Mills.

Both runs culminate in the Sunset Coffee Rave, an evening social event featuring multiple DJs spinning old-school Cantopop and other dynamic tunes, ensuring the fun extends into the evening.

The Urban Brew Summit represents more than just a typical festival; it is a meticulously curated two-weekend convergence of global coffee trends, community engagement, and cultural expression in the heart of Hong Kong. Further details and passport purchases are available on The Mills’ official website.

Major mainland technology company Baidu Apollo International Limited has initiated an extensive driverless private vehicle test program across the dense urban settings of Kowloon City and Kwun Tong Districts starting in early November, marking Hong Kong’s first trial of unmanned vehicles within commercial and residential areas. Simultaneously, the Airport Authority has launched public light bus trials using autonomous technology, running between 11Skies and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge Hong Kong Port. These accelerated programs follow years of gradual integration, signaling the city’s commitment to adopting Autonomous Vehicles (AVs) for public and private use, despite ongoing concerns regarding pedestrian safety and traffic management.

Phased Introduction of Driverless Technology

Hong Kong began integrating AV technology into daily operations in 2019, primarily starting with automated operational vehicles at Hong Kong International Airport. Since then, the Transport Department has allowed three proprietors to conduct pilot programs in restricted zones, including the airport, North Lantau, the West Kowloon Cultural District, and the Southern District. The latest trials represent a significant expansion from controlled environments to heavily trafficked urban centers.

Baidu Apollo’s new trial aims to minimize disruption to Hong Kong’s already congested traffic flow. The Transport Department has specifically designated operating windows for the testing phase:

• Mondays to Saturdays: 1 a.m. to 5 a.m., 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
• Sundays: 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Out of the ten scheduled trial vehicles, a maximum of three are permitted to operate concurrently on the designated routes at any given time.

Trial Routes Focus on Key Urban Arteries

The driverless cars will navigate critical infrastructure in Kowloon City and Kwun Tong. The routes include Shing Fung Road, Muk On Street, Kai Shing Street, and Concorde Road in Kowloon City, alongside Kai Wah Street, Wang Kwong Road, and Kai Cheung Road in Kwun Tong. Designated stops during the trials include the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department Headquarters, Skyline Tower, Zero Carbon Park, and Runway 1331.

This expansion into urban districts represents a crucial testing phase for the robustness of autonomous technology in complex, real-world environments characterized by unpredictable pedestrians, varied road conditions, and dense vehicle volumes.

Weighing Innovation Against Safety Concerns

While the official commencement of these urban trials demonstrates the Transport Department’s resolve to introduce autonomous transportation, the rollout occurs amidst persistent public and regulatory safety questions. Collisions involving driverless vehicles have previously been recorded during preliminary trials at the airport, underscoring the complexities of deploying AVs, especially on new road frameworks like those around Kai Tak and in densely populated neighborhoods.

The successful navigation of these crowded environments by Baidu Apollo’s vehicles will prove essential in building public trust and establishing clear regulatory pathways for wider AV adoption. The city sees driverless technology as a solution for future mobility challenges, but the immediate priority remains the guaranteed safety of all road users.

The Transport Department provides ongoing updates and detailed information about current and future AV initiatives on its official website, td.gov.hk.