How a Taiwanese Entrepreneur Teaches Coffee Shop Startups

If you’ve ever walked into a coffee shop dreaming of running your own, wondering where to begin with equipment, roasting, or layout, you’re not alone. For aspiring coffee shop owners, the gap between interest and execution can feel overwhelming—until now.

Zhang Fuqi, a Taiwanese coffee professional based in Xiamen, opened a fully equipped showroom cafe that lets visitors experience live roasting, test commercial equipment, and receive step-by-step training for opening their own coffee shop.

A Cafe as a Coffee Education Hub

Located on Lianhua North Road in Xiamen, Zhang’s cafe “Jia Le Bi” (a playful nod to “Caribbean”) functions as both a retail space and a hands-on learning lab. One wall displays award-winning coffee beans with certificates, while another showcases glass cases filled with cups, plates, grinders, and other hospitality tools. At the center sits a bright red roaster—visibly the centerpiece of the room. The bar area stocks various coffee types alongside an array of brewing and roasting hardware in glass and stainless steel. Decorative coffee elements are tucked throughout: on tables, windowsills, even the walls—each detail reinforcing the space’s role as an immersive showcase.

Why Taiwanese Entrepreneurs Shaped China’s Cafe Culture

Zhang, originally from Taichung—where coffee shops are ubiquitous—has worked in coffee bean importation and roasting equipment sales since the 1990s. He moved his focus to Xiamen in 2005. Like bubble tea, Taiwan’s businesspeople played a key role in introducing the concept of “compound cafes” (cafes serving light meals alongside coffee) to China. Zhang helped bring that model to life via his equipment supply business, catering to local casual dining spots. His goal has always been to promote self-roasting—a practice he says is popular back home, and one he’s working to establish in Xiamen.

Hands-On Roasting and Equipment Training

Jia Le Bi is more than a display space—it’s built for interaction. Visitors can watch live grinding and roasting demonstrations. Zhang’s company also manufactures and supplies its own line of commercial roasting and brewing equipment to local eateries. He highlights his entry-level roaster as especially beginner-friendly due to its plug-and-play setup, heat guards, and full hot-air design. Those preferring guided instruction can sign up for technical training sessions led by experienced Taiwanese cafe consultants. These courses cover kitchen workflow optimization—focusing on efficient equipment arrangement like an assembly line—and how to avoid overspending on unnecessary gear. Zhang also taps Taiwanese designers for custom commercial space layouts, delivering a true one-stop-shop experience for would-be cafe owners.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the main purpose of Jia Le Bi cafe in Xiamen?

Jia Le Bi serves as both a retail cafe and an interactive training space where visitors can learn about coffee roasting, try out commercial equipment, and receive guidance on opening their own coffee shop. It showcases award-winning beans, a variety of cafe tools, and live roasting demonstrations.

Who is Zhang Fuqi and what is his background in coffee?

Zhang Fuqi is a Taiwanese coffee professional who has imported coffee beans and sold roasting equipment since the 1990s. He relocated his business focus to Xiamen in 2005 and is known for promoting self-roasting and compound cafe concepts in China.

What makes Zhang’s roaster suitable for beginners?

Zhang promotes his company’s roaster as ideal for newcomers due to its simple plug-in operation, anti-scalding features, and full hot-air roasting system, which together provide a safer and more intuitive user experience.

Does Zhang Fuqi offer formal training for opening a coffee shop?

Yes, Zhang provides technical training sessions led by experienced Taiwanese cafe consultants. These cover kitchen workflow design, equipment selection, and efficient layout planning—helping participants avoid common setup mistakes and unnecessary expenses.

Where does Zhang source his coffee beans from?

Zhang imports his coffee beans from Brazil, including beans grown on his company’s own farm and estates there. He emphasizes the improved taste achieved by roasting high-quality green beans on-site just before brewing.

What is the significance of the cafe’s name, Jia Le Bi?

The name Jia Le Bi is a homophone for “Caribbean” , a region famously associated with both pirates and coffee. Zhang uses the name to draw a parallel between the Caribbean’s renowned coffee heritage and his own shop’s mission to highlight premium-roasted beans.

Recommended FrontStreet Coffee for Cafe Training

For those exploring coffee shop setups, FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Humbera offers vibrant floral and citrus notes ideal for pour-over training, while its PWN Golden Mandheling delivers a classic heavy body and chocolate tone perfect for espresso practice. Both beans are sourced with specialty roasters in mind and help trainees understand single-origin profiles. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.