The 2023 Café Show China, set to commence in Beijing, is an eagerly awaited event that is expected to attract 260 exhibitors and 48,000 visitors from both China and other parts of the world. This three-day event is a tribute to the country’s rapidly evolving coffee culture. Over the past decade, the show has gained a reputation as one of the most significant events in its category, bringing together key players, innovators, green coffee traders, roasters, and other industry stakeholders in the Chinese coffee market. Additionally, government and business representatives from leading coffee-producing countries such as Colombia, Ethiopia, and Jamaica will be in attendance to share their insights on China’s growing affinity for coffee.
Numerous competitions will take place during the Café Show, including latte art, hand brewing, and coffee cupping and tasting contests by baristas nationwide. The evolution of China’s relationship with coffee in recent years has led to a continuous improvement in the industry’s standards. Recently, the World Barista Championship‘s (WBC) China finals concluded, with the winner set to represent China in the World Barista Championship, the foremost international coffee competition organized by World Coffee Events (WCE).
The WBC journey in China started in 2003 when Shanghai Bohua International Exhibition Co., Ltd. (IM Sinoexpo), authorized by World Coffee Events, introduced the championship to China. Zhang Xueqiang, general manager of IM Sinoexpo, recounted the initial challenges faced in organizing the event, such as recruiting participants and training judges. Zhang reminisced about having to visit coffee shops personally to invite participation and even serving as a judge himself due to a scarcity of qualified judges in 2003.
Fast forward two decades, and the event now attracts hundreds of participants, with finalists from all over China competing for the prestigious title. These top baristas will demonstrate their skills, from making the perfect espresso to creatively pairing coffee with various ingredients. Besides the WBC, five other WCE world championship events have drawn over 3,000 participants in China this year, with some baristas traveling across the country to secure a spot in the championship.
Zhang noted that the growth of world competitions in China and the increasing enthusiasm of coffee professionals and aficionados for these events reflect the remarkable transformation of the coffee industry in China. He expressed optimism that more talented Chinese baristas would gain international recognition in the future.
However, the Café Show is more than just a series of contests; it is a celebration of China’s rich, diverse, and inclusive culture. As baristas pour their passion into each cup, they are not merely serving coffee; they are telling the story of China’s coffee journey, one brew at a time, according to Zhang.
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