A cup that connects cultures

Hendy Yuniarto, an Indonesian lecturer at Beijing Foreign Studies University, discussed his trip to a coffee plantation in Pu'er in 2022 in his speech. There, he gained more knowledge about coffee, as well as how to taste and evaluate coffee flavors.

He says drinking coffee is no longer merely a symbol of urban life in China, nor just a pick-me-up for office workers. It has become a part of daily life for the general public.

Xu Li, wife of the current Greek ambassador to China, Evgenios Kalpyris, agrees. Having witnessed the development of China's coffee industry over the past three decades, she has seen firsthand its remarkably rapid growth, diverse offerings, and widespread popularity, as well as the increasing number of domestic chain cafes and specialty coffee shops across the country.

Gabriel Moreti, a partner at Global Agribusiness Opportunities, a Brazilian company in China, says tastes differ between nationalities. "Brazilian coffee drinkers typically prefer it black and unsweetened, while Chinese consumers like coffee with different added flavors. I'm an espresso lover, but I drink coconut milk lattes sometimes," he says.

He adds that China can learn from Brazil's high-yield, sustainable coffee farm management, while Brazil can learn from China's coffee branding expertise.