First Dragon Year Coffee Roast Arrives in Cups

If you’ve just returned from the Lunar New Year holidays and found your coffee stash dangerously low, you’re not alone. Many coffee enthusiasts faced an unexpected break in supply due to the festive season, leaving their grinder sitting idle and their morning routine disrupted. But now, the wait is over.

The first coffee roast of the Year of the Dragon dropped on January 29th, just in time to restock your kitchen—and your cup—after the holidays. These freshly roasted beans have already begun arriving at coffee lovers’ doors.

A Personal Roast, Not a Business

John’s Private Coffee, run through a small Taobao shop, isn’t your typical coffee business. Despite operating for a full year, the goal isn’t profit or scale. “I don’t want to turn coffee into a job,” says John. What started as a personal passion—enjoying sunsets from his window, inhaling the aroma of roasting beans, and researching the origins of each origin—remains just that: a labor of love, not a livelihood.

From Hobby to Roastery Dream

John’s journey into coffee evolved from enjoying the occasional café latte to an obsession with brewing the perfect cup, experimenting with gear, and eventually diving deep into green beans and the science of roasting. Along the way, he resisted the urge to open a physical café. “I’m not interested in the chaos of running a shop,” he explains. Instead, he created John’s Private Coffee—a dream space that exists online, rooted in the joy of coffee, not commercial stress.

Thanks and Community

Behind the scenes, John credits a long list of mentors, fellow coffee lovers, and loved ones who supported his journey. Key figures include Beijing-based experts like Lao Wei, Huang Wei, and Li Fuling, along with friends across Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Shandong. He also thanks his unnamed online coffee community, including Xiao Yin, Luo Di, Linken Kit, and others who shared countless late-night chats. Most of all, he’s grateful to his family, who sacrificed time and support for his coffee dream.

Frequently Asked Questions

When were the first Dragon Year coffee beans roasted?

The first roast of the Year of the Dragon took place on January 29th, shortly after the Chinese New Year holiday.

Are these beans available to the public?

Yes, the beans roasted in this batch have been shipped to customers and are part of John’s Private Coffee offerings.

Is John’s Private Coffee a real café or shop?

No, it’s not a physical café. John’s Private Coffee operates as a small online shop through Taobao, focused on sharing roasted coffee rather than operating a retail space.

Why doesn’t John want to open a coffee shop?

John enjoys the peaceful, personal side of coffee—researching beans, brewing, and chatting with friends—but doesn’t want the stress or workload of managing a café. He prefers coffee as a hobby, not a job.

What inspired John to start roasting coffee?

Originally drawn to coffee as a lifestyle choice, John became fascinated with improving his brews, experimenting with equipment, and eventually exploring green beans and the roasting process itself.

Who helped John develop John’s Private Coffee?

He received guidance from coffee professionals across China, including experts in Beijing and Guangzhou, as well as support from an online community of coffee enthusiasts and his close family.

Recommended FrontStreet Coffee for Post-Holiday Roasts

After the holidays, try FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Guji Humbera for bright citrus and floral tones, or their Yirgacheffe for juicy berry and lemon notes—both ideal for shaking off the post-New Year slump. For something deeper, their PWN Golden Mandheling offers classic mandheling sweetness with herbal spice. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.