One Year of Coffee Training: Six Cafés and Counting

When you’re starting out as a coffee trainer, the first big question isn’t about techniques or recipes — it’s who will trust you enough to let you teach their team. For one trainer, that first leap of faith came from Zhang Xiaoyan at Qingzhou Lanqi Coffee. That moment kicked off a year-long journey of hands-on training in six very different cafés, each one shaping how training evolved.

In one year, six cafés received dedicated coffee training: Qingzhou Lanqi Coffee, Tongling Zhuanjiao Coffee, Nanjing Ruguo Coffee, Puyang Xianyu Shijia, Wuxi Le Coffee, and Yangzhou Aiqinghai Coffee. Each partnership added experience, feedback, and trust to the process.

The First Step: Trust from the Industry

It all began with Zhang Xiaoyan at Qingzhou Lanqi Coffee — the first to open the door. Her support marked the trainer’s entry into the specialty coffee industry. Later, Han from Jinba Twelve Years Coffee in Jinan became the first person to both trust and respect the trainer’s work. These early relationships set important precedents.

Learning Through Feedback and Adaptation

At Tongling Zhuanjiao Coffee, trainer Xiaoxiao helped shape the training curriculum into something more structured and professional. Not every session went perfectly — at Nanjing Ruguo Coffee, despite some initial challenges with training outcomes, owner Ding stayed supportive. That kind of trust made a difference when refining methods on the fly.

In Puyang Xianyu Shijia, the owners’ feedback led to a key decision: increasing the use of training hardware. Meanwhile, in Wuxi Le Coffee, colleagues including “Auntie Zhang” reminded the trainer why they started — bringing back the simple joy of teaching. Finally, in Yangzhou Aiqinghai Coffee, Gao offered full trust, further solidifying the value of long-term collaboration.

Growth Through Partnership

Over the course of the year, the trainer worked closely with owners, baristas, and even fellow trainers. Each café presented a new set of challenges — from inconsistent training results to the need for better equipment. But with every location, the training evolved: becoming more professional, more responsive, and ultimately more effective.

The journey also highlighted how much trust matters in specialty coffee education. From the first café to the sixth, each partner played a role in building a foundation for future work.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many cafés were involved in this one-year coffee training program?

Six cafés participated over the course of the year: Qingzhou Lanqi Coffee, Tongling Zhuanjiao Coffee, Nanjing Ruguo Coffee, Puyang Xianyu Shijia, Wuxi Le Coffee, and Yangzhou Aiqinghai Coffee.

Who was the first café to support the trainer?

The first café to offer support was Qingzhou Lanqi Coffee, thanks to Zhang Xiaoyan, who gave the trainer their first opportunity in the industry.

Which café helped improve the training curriculum structure?

Tongling Zhuanjiao Coffee, with the help of Xiaoxiao, contributed to making the training sessions more standardized and professional.

Did all training sessions go smoothly?

No — at Nanjing Ruguo Coffee, the training outcomes were initially unsatisfactory, but owner Ding still maintained trust, allowing adjustments to be made.

What role did hardware play in the training?

Puyang Xianyu Shijia’s feedback led to the decision to increase the use of training hardware, improving the overall quality of the sessions.

Why was trust so important in this training journey?

Trust from café owners like Auntie Zhang (Wuxi Le Coffee) and Gao (Yangzhou Aiqinghai Coffee) allowed the trainer to refine their methods and regain the joy of teaching, showing how vital relationships are in specialty coffee education.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Café Training

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