The country that revolutionised tea consumption all over the world has gradually begun to turn their attention to the world of coffee.
Reports state that in 2023-24, 5.8 million 60 kg bags of coffee were consumed by the residents. But that’s not all. China once ranked as a top arabica coffee producer in the world.
Today, they are said to produce 1.8 million 60 kg bags of coffee every year. To put things in perspective, that figure goes up to 66.3 million for Brazil annually.
But what’s interesting about coffee in China is that it doesn’t compete with the country's tea consumption. In fact, for many Chinese locals, tea and coffee exist parallelly in their lifestyle, sometimes even in the cup.
Let’s take a deeper dive into their coffee journey and understand what to expect from a cup of Chinese coffee.
History
As with the history of coffee in most other regions we have explored on this blog, coffee was introduced to China back in the late 1800s.
A French missionary is said to have brought the crop to the Yunnan province. To date, Yunnan remains the largest contributor to China’s coffee cultivation, with Hainan and Fujian being the other two provinces where coffee is grown.
Initially, it began as small-scale cultivation and projects fueled by the state.
The government set up the Tea and Coffee Industry Bureau to help promote Yunnan's coffee within the country and on a global level.
As the 1980s and 90s rolled around, more plantations were set up to meet the demands of the urban community. Government-led initiatives ensured that there was external support to aid the growth of coffee.
Changes in household income and lifestyles meant that people were opening up to the idea of spending money for frequent consumption of coffee.
The entry of global coffee giant, Starbucks in 1999, marked a crucial point in the country’s coffee culture. Businesses, realising the potential, began to invest in China’s coffee landscape.
While once there were only a fraction of coffee shops, the market has grown by leaps and bounds today, with more than 132,000 stores operating in the country.
What Does Chinese Coffee Taste Like?
As you already know, a part of China lies along the bean belt, ensuring that those regions have the ideal conditions required for coffee cultivation.
Yunnan’s coffees are held in high esteem by people who have tried them, praising the province for high-quality beans.
Typically, a coffee from Yunnan has a soft body and balanced acidity. You can expect to find notes of berries, chocolate, and nuts.
Some of the coffee plantations in Yunnan are located at an altitude of 2000 masl. This lends an intricacy to the flavour profile of the beans. If you’re not a fan of the bitterness in coffee, you’ll be thrilled to know that Chinese coffees tend to be less bitter than the usual African or South American coffees.
Present Day Trends
It’s no secret that Chinese culture and its ties to natural medicine have birthed a population that is comparatively more health-conscious.
Considering that, it comes across as a surprise that Chinese coffee consumers don’t particularly prefer all-black coffee. They look for sweet drinks and unique beverages that have a vibrant mix of ingredients offering a novel experience.
Of course, a majority of these consumers fall under the 25-44 years age bracket. The demand for such innovative drinks meant that coffee shops could not settle for perfecting just the usual range of drinks like a latte or espresso.
On the one hand, it’s common to find coffee beverages that have fruit juice, tea, and coconut milk. On the other, you can also get lower-calorie varieties that use healthier alternatives to milk and sweeteners.
No matter your preference, China’s cafe chains most probably have ample options for you.
One of the most interesting aspects of China’s coffee culture is the heavy focus on coffee delivery. With the F&B delivery system being faster and affordable, many coffee consumers prefer ordering their fill of coffee, and consequently, several coffee shops only have take away counters for delivery professionals to promptly pick up orders and deliver them.
Luckin remains a cornerstone of the Chinese coffee experience. These chain coffee shops even outperform Starbucks in the country, running as many as 18,360 stores.
Being one of the most populous regions on the globe, there’s a definite market for the expansion of coffee culture in China.
From coffee exports to more cutting-edge business ideas, the realm of opportunities for progress is vast.