China's Rapidly Evolving Coffee Industry Is Attracting A New Generation Of Technical Artisans – CoffeeTalk

China’s coffee industry is experiencing a significant transformation, with a new generation of technical artisans now transforming humble coffee beans into liquid sonata. This shift is driven by the establishment of a state-certified coffee processing technician, one of 17 new professions recognized by China’s Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security. The task of these technicians involves converting coffee cherries into green/roasted beans, final products, or derivatives by operating coffee processing equipment.

The institutionalization of this profession demonstrates the maturation of China’s coffee market and signals the sector’s impending transition toward specialized, precision-oriented development. The pinnacle of a coffee processing technician’s craft lies in precision blending, harmonizing bean varieties to create profiles that balance technical excellence and emotional resonance.

China’s coffee thirst is accelerating, with per capita consumption frequency rising from 5.6 times annually in 2023 to 7 times in 2024. The market ballooned to 789.3 billion yuan in 2024 and is projected to exceed 1 trillion yuan in 2025. There are more than 248,000 coffee-related enterprises operating across China, with new registrations jumping 16.8% year-on-year in the first half of 2025.

Experts note that as coffee consumption grows steadily, the industry’s professionalization accelerates, evidenced by new specialized roles that naturally arise at this development stage. The coffee industry now faces talent gaps across its entire value chain from farm to finished product, with growing demand for skilled professionals. Regions across the country are racing to address this shortage, with Pu’er in Yunnan’s coffee heartland of Pu’er establishing a coffee technician vocational training program to upskill workers. Jiangmen and Foshan in South China’s Guangdong province are piloting an innovative “one test, multiple certifications” system to streamline professional credentialing. Kunshan in Jiangsu province is capitalizing on its booming “village café” trend by hosting barista competitions.

General manager Wang Lijun of Comeng Coffee emphasizes the importance of developing and optimizing the vocational training system for skilled professionals. He believes that standardized training covering green bean science, roasting, and sensory evaluation is necessary to drive industry growth.

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