By now, coffee is the 'old black' in the traditional land of tea

China's coffee culture was just starting to percolate when I arrived in Beijing in 2005.

The nearest place to where I lived to get a real (not instant) cuppa was a roughly 20-minute cab ride to the city's Sanlitun area. And the only place I could find grounds was the Friendship Store.

Today, there are at least a dozen spots selling a host of coffee drinks near my home and place of work.