Par Cafe publishes rankings of boutique java joints

Lin says the number of specialty-coffee shops in Shanghai has been growing quickly over the past few years, an indication of the progress of the coffee market in the city. As such, having such a review would make consumers more interested in coffee.

According to him, 50 percent of the rating was based on flavor, 25 percent on service, 20 percent on the environment and 5 percent on market influence.

"The first step for me is to look around the store and its design because 'adding points' to the city is an important function of a specialty-coffee shop," Lin says.

"After entering the cafe, I will evaluate the level of professionalism according to the decoration, the interaction with the barista and the introduction of its featured products. Then I will observe the brewing process and whether the barista is transferring the correct coffee knowledge to the customers," he adds.

When asked about his coffee recommendations for people who are still unfamiliar with coffee, Lin says these individuals should order a cappuccino or a flat white.

He explains that compared with the latte, people can taste more of the coffee beans and how the milk is processed with these two types of beverages.

Lin says a good cup of coffee depends not only on the quality of the coffee beans but also on the skill of the barista. These variations of coffee can quite accurately reflect the ability of a barista.

"There are shops that have great-tasting coffee but I did not give them high scores because the overall atmosphere and professionalism are lacking," says Lin.

"I think it is important for shops to give the right perception of specialty coffee to customers through all these elements."