85 Degrees C, a chain that specialises in cakes and coffee, is heading for Hong Kong.

Parent Gourmet Master currently runs stores in Taiwan, China, Australia and the US.

Taiwanese-listed Gourmet Master is working on a deal with Hong Kong fast quick service restaurant operator Cafe de Coral Group to open a network of 85 Degrees C cafes.

Hong Kong will get three to five 85 Degrees C outlets by the end of this year with the first expected to open within about three months.

Gourmet Master, which operates in Chinese cities including Shanghai, Beijing, Tianjin, Chongqing, Chengdu and Nanjing, also plans to open 100 to 120 outlets in other Chinese cities including Hefei and Zhengzhou by the end of this year. China made up over 60 per cent of its overall sales last year.

Meanwhile, in its homeland, five to 10 85 Degrees C cafes will open this year.

Gourmet Master has 330 outlets in Taiwan, 270 in China, five in Australia and two in the US. Net profit surged to NT$1.14 billion (US$38.51 million) last year.

The brand name 85 Degrees C was taken from 85 ℃ which is the ideal temperature to drink coffee.

GB