Coffee latte art opens up a world of possibilities, flying freely after overcoming illness

"I prefer birds, like roosters, because they have feathers, and they have that lighter, more airy feel." In Taipei, China at nearly 11 a.m., as the crowd of commuters and people running errands hurried past, Zongchen smiled inside the easy coffee shop at the MRT Shandao Temple Station: "What the teacher taught was a swan, but I prefer roosters, so I changed it to a rooster myself."

As the shop's barista, Zongchen has spent several years of diligent practice on coffee latte art, and he can now pour dozens of designs, including the "twelve Chinese zodiac animals," bears and cats, always drawing repeated praise from customers, who cannot resist taking out their phones to photograph and record them. "If everyone is happy, that means I succeeded!"

This coffee shop, located near exits 5 and 6 of Shandao Temple Station, is a small space entrusted by the Taipei City Department of Labor to the Taipei City Association for the Rehabilitation of the Mentally Ill. Rehabilitation friends who have sought medical treatment for mental illness, once their condition is stable, may after professional assessment take part in social work, and with the accompaniment of professionals, they brew coffee here for passersby. Starting this year, they have also cooperated with fair trade manufacturers to launch three drip bag coffees named "Galloping," "murmur" and "Polar Day," subtly sketching the world as seen through the eyes of patients.

"Compared with fast food restaurant work, I prefer coffee shop work. At a fast food restaurant, they just want you to move fast, doing the same repetitive motions over and over, and you learn nothing." Zongchen recalled his part-time work experience before he became ill. Now, working in a coffee shop where he can operate the espresso machine, steam fine milk foam and create all kinds of latte art designs gives him a greater sense of accomplishment.