[Shenzhen] Metal Hands 铁手咖啡 was already a familiar name to me before this Shenzhen trip, after first trying the brand in Beijing and later coming across it again in Hangzhou.
By the time I found another outlet at Shenzhen Bay MixC 深圳湾万象城, there was that nice sense of meeting an old coffee acquaintance in a rather different setting.
Some background: The brand began in Beijing’s Wudaoying Hutong in 2016, with its name inspired by the lever espresso machine used at the original shop.
It gradually built a following around specialty coffee, particularly Dirty-style drinks and seasonal creations that tend to have a playful side.
Compared with the smaller Beijing cafes I remember, this branch feels more open, dressed in pastel green, orange seating, paper globe lamps and colourful paintings that give the space quite a bit of personality.
What surprised me more was how peaceful it felt despite being inside a mall.
Plus point: Some of the seats look towards THE WAVE, the photogenic public space at Shenzhen Bay MixC Phase II with its sunken plaza and flowing water features, so the outlook feels more open than the usual mall cafe view of shopfronts and escalators.
Metal Hands keeps the menu very much coffee-led, covering Espresso, Americano, Flat White, hand-brewed single origins and cold drip, though I find the seasonal section more fun to browse.
Current choices include Matcha Dirty (¥45), Guava Dirty (¥48), Vienna Coffee (¥45), Pineapple Jackfruit (¥48) and Strawberry Americano (¥38).
Among the more popular orders at this outlet are the Pistachio Dirty (¥48), Vienna Coffee (¥45), and Butter & Cinnamon Dirty (¥40).
I went for the Pistachio Latte 开心果荷包蛋 (¥48), which arrived looking as though a sunny-side-up egg had somehow landed on my coffee.
The white and yellow centre made the resemblance quite uncanny, with crushed pistachios forming a generous ring around the top.
The surprise was how well the drink backed up the visual. Made with espresso, pistachio, concentrated milk and Kiri cheese milk, the nuttiness came through clearly while the coffee was still noticeable, finished with a creamy savouriness that kept the sweetness in check.
It managed to nail the flavours to a T, which is harder than simply making a cute coffee look cute.
Those wanting something sweet can also look towards the Strawberry, Matcha, Soy Milk Ball and Orange Soufflés at ¥52 each, along with Italian Burnt Banana Cake (¥58), Saffron Fig Cheesecake (¥62) and Tiramisu (¥56). Do allow about 25 minutes for the soufflés.
I decided to go for the Madeleine 玛德琳 (¥38), served as a pair and apparently another popular order here, which makes for a simpler accompaniment if you do not want to commit to one of the soufflés.
Even though it is in a mall, Metal Hands 铁手咖啡 has enough character and creativity to make this Shenzhen outlet feel memorable.
Metal Hands 铁手咖啡
BD129, B1, Zone B, Phase II, Shenzhen Bay MixC, 1218 Haide 1st Road, Yuehai Subdistrict, Nanshan District, Shenzhen
深圳市南山区粤海街道海德一道1218号深圳湾万象城二期B区负一楼BD129
Opening Hours: 10am – 9pm (Mon – Sun)
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