Across China: SW China city brewing champion coffee culture

GUIYANG, June 22 (Xinhua) -- Guiyang, in southwest China's Guizhou Province, has earned the title "City of Coffee Champions," a remarkable feat for a region that grows no coffee beans but fosters champion baristas and thousands of cafes.

Its streets, lined with over 3,000 cafes boasting a density surpassing even that of east China's Shanghai, serve as the training ground for an elite cadre of baristas dominating global competitions.

PIONEER SHOPS TO WORLD STAGE

Guiyang's coffee culture started in 2005 when pioneering cafes introduced specialty coffee years before it became mainstream in China. This sparked passion in a generation of young coffee enthusiasts.

Peng Jinyang is among the pioneers. In May 2025, the Guiyang native won the World Brewers Cup Championship in Jakarta, Indonesia. Already China's 2024 champion, this marked the first such win for a Chinese mainland competitor since 2019.

Peng discovered specialty coffee in a Guiyang cafe during high school. His career faced early struggles -- his first coffee bean venture sold only 40 bags in its opening month. He then temporarily diversified his business before again focusing solely on coffee roasting via his Captain George brand.

To improve his skills, Peng traveled for training purposes and learned directly from world champions. He also brought global expertise back to Guiyang by organizing workshops featuring top baristas.

His competitive record is impressive -- champion roaster at Taiwan's Takao International Coffee Competition (2016), repeated top finishes in the China Brewers Cup Championship (CBrC), and his recent world title. His team, meanwhile, has dominated the CBrC for five consecutive years since 2020.

Notably, Guiyang has so far nurtured more than 10 world and national titleholders.

COMMUNITY COFFEE CULTURE

Black Rock Coffee owner Lei Ming faced a critical choice during a 2017 business slump. Rather than close down, he opted to borrow money to renovate and deepen his coffee expertise. This risk succeeded handsomely.

After the renovation, his customer base recovered, while Lei also transitioned from competitor to certified coffee judge. During this year's Dragon Boat Festival, Black Rock served over 300 cups daily, with tourists making up nearly 75 percent of its patrons.

Lei's story echoes that of Liu Kaisheng, who started as a barista at one of Guiyang's earliest specialty coffee cafes. Unhappy with the inconsistent bean quality, Liu taught himself roasting, progressing from temporary setups to a professional studio.

"Focus entirely on the quality of coffee," he said. Such dedication is common among Guiyang cafe owners -- many of whom are both competition champions and certified judges.

LOCAL FLAVORS DRIVE INNOVATION

Guiyang's cafes stand out through specializing in niches like roasting, brewing, latte art and creative drinks, thereby building unique identities in a crowded market.

Innovation often carries a local flavor. Lei's unexpected fusion, a blending of Guiyang's fish mint with an Americano, evolved from a curiosity into a signature hit. In addition, his "One Bean, Three Ways" menu, pairing single-origin coffee with regional ingredients like fish mint, became a bestseller.

Beyond taste, unique spaces also fuel the Guiyang coffee scene. Orchard Coffee, housed in a concrete-and-glass structure resembling an art community more than a traditional cafe, merges a roastery with an educational hub. Founder Qiang Hua, himself a top competition judge, said that "champions aren't just about brewing well -- they must elevate the entire industry and push peers forward."

At Good Coffee, meanwhile, artistry is evident on the cup. Cups hand-painted by owner Luo Nianyu and her team transform each serving into a unique canvas, earning the cafe a reputation as Guiyang's "most warm-hearted." ■