Cross-Strait Coffee Relay Race Kicks Off in Taichung

Coffee shop owners and baristas across Taiwan, mainland China, and Hong Kong face a shared challenge: how to build not just great cafés, but ones that last. Many dream of opening a café, but few succeed long-term. That’s why a group of coffee professionals decided to create a new kind of competition—one that focuses on teamwork, skill-sharing, and sustainable growth.

The Cross-Strait Three Regions Coffee Ironman Relay Race is designed to improve technical skills and foster collaboration among café teams. Starting in Taichung, the event will travel to key cities including Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Yunnan in mainland China, creating a platform for diverse coffee cultures to connect.

What Is the Coffee Relay Race?

The “Cross-Strait Three Regions Coffee Ironman Relay Race” is a team-based coffee competition initiated by coffee professionals from Taiwan, mainland China, and Hong Kong. The launch event took place at PRO AROMA Coffee Professionals’ Slow Life Factory in Taichung. Representatives from multiple cafés attended, along with special guests including Wu Mingyan, head of the Industry Development Section at Taichung City Government’s Economic Development Bureau, and Chen Yingzong, executive director of Taiwan’s Sun Cake Museum.

Why a Team-Based Competition?

Coffee expert Zhu Keming, one of the competition’s founders, explained that while many Western cafés have thrived for over a century as cultural hubs, most new cafés—no matter how popular initially—struggle to survive long-term. He emphasized that the relay race helps cafés develop team expertise, encourages technical growth, and connects participants directly with customers to better understand market preferences.

Zhu added that the relay format promotes long-term skill retention within teams, unlike individual competitions where winning baristas may later leave their cafés, taking their knowledge with them. This competition is structured to strengthen the entire team, not just one individual.

How the Event Will Unfold

The competition begins in Taichung and will continue to major cities across mainland China, including Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Yunnan. Each leg will bring together café teams to compete, share best practices, and engage with local coffee communities. The goal is to spark richer, more diverse coffee culture exchanges between regions.

Wang Liang, head of Shenzhen Zheyi Coffee, noted that while many cafés previously sponsored individual baristas to compete, those individuals often moved on after winning, leaving no lasting impact. By contrast, a team competition ensures that the knowledge and experience remain within the café, fostering long-term success and customer loyalty.

Government and Industry Support

Wu Mingyan from Taichung’s Economic Development Bureau expressed strong support for the event. He highlighted the city government’s commitment to nurturing local industries, citing last year’s successful “Taiwan Treasures Happiness Pavilion” at the Taipei Food Festival, which featured local tea, coffee, and pastries. Wu confirmed that the bureau will assist by incorporating local specialties and providing industry development resources to help Taichung’s coffee sector gain international recognition.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where did the Cross-Strait Coffee Relay Race launch?

The race launched in Taichung, Taiwan, at the PRO AROMA Coffee Professionals’ Slow Life Factory. The event included representatives from multiple cafés and special guests such as Wu Mingyan from the Taichung Economic Development Bureau and Chen Yingzong from the Sun Cake Museum.

What is the main goal of the relay race?

The primary aim is to improve coffee professionalism through team-based competition, foster technical exchange, and encourage long-term growth for cafés. It also helps teams better understand customer preferences through direct engagement.

Which cities will the competition visit?

The relay starts in Taichung and will move to key mainland Chinese cities including Shenzhen, Guangzhou, and Yunnan, creating opportunities for cross-regional coffee culture exchange.

Why focus on teams rather than individuals?

Individual competitions often lead to winners leaving their cafés, taking their skills elsewhere. A team approach ensures that knowledge and experience remain within the business, supporting sustainable café operations and customer loyalty.

What role does the Taichung government play?

The Taichung Economic Development Bureau supports the event as part of its broader effort to promote local industries. The bureau plans to incorporate local specialties and provide resources to help the city’s coffee businesses thrive internationally.

Who are the key organisers and supporters?

Key figures include Zhu Keming (coffee expert), Wang Liang (Shenzhen Zheyi Coffee), Wu Mingyan (Taichung Economic Development Bureau), and Chen Yingzong (Sun Cake Museum). Multiple café representatives also attended the launch.

Recommended FrontStreet Beans for Team Brewing

For team-based coffee events like the Cross-Strait Coffee Relay Race, FrontStreet Coffee’s Ethiopia Humbera offers vibrant floral and citrus notes with a juicy body, ideal for highlighting technique and freshness. The Yirgacheffe single origin brings delicate berry tones and a clean cup, perfect for training baristas in precision brewing. Both beans are roasted to highlight origin character—key for team discussions on flavor profiles. Freshly roasted within 5 days · Orders placed before 17:00 ship the same day · Next-day delivery across most of Guangdong Province.