Coffee Industry
Latest articles, industry insights and brewing guides
Yunnan’s Hougu Coffee Faces $280 Million Debt Crisis
Hougu Coffee, Yunnan’s largest coffee firm, defaults on ¥2 billion in loans, halting its IPO plans. Overexpansion and weak branding caused the crisis.
Shenyang’s 90s Model Opens Anime-Themed Maid Café
A former medical graduate turned entrepreneur runs a cosplay café in Shenyang where maids play games, tutor, and serve themed coffee.
KFC Launches $1 Coffee Push in China Against McDonald's
KFC starts selling brewed coffee from ¥10 ($1.40) in over 600 outlets, undercutting McDonald’s McCafé at ¥20 and Starbucks at ¥30.
Yunnan Hougu Coffee Faces $200M Debt Crisis
Hougu Coffee owes over 2 billion yuan in loans, spending millions yearly just to roll over debt, threatening 300,000 farmers’ incomes.
Tokyo’s Owl Cafés Offer a Unique Coffee With Wildlife
Experience a cozy coffee date with owls in Tokyo — hand-feed and photograph these birds safely at one of the city’s themed cafés.
How Yunnan Coffee Won Global Attention Through Love Coffee Group
Discover how Yunnan coffee gained international acclaim, the role of the Love Coffee Group, and its partnership with Starbucks.
Hougu Coffee’s $200M Debt Crisis: What Went Wrong
Hougu Coffee, China’s largest instant coffee maker, reveals $200M in liabilities and calls for bank loan extensions. Rapid expansion and farming investments strained finances.
Chengdu’s $140 Coffee Shop Crowdfunding: Investment or Hobby?
Two Chengdu coffee shop crowdfunding projects let people invest $140–$2,000. But are they real business deals or just social experiments? Here’s what the numbers show.
Korean-Inspired Dining Bar 'Creation' Opens in Suzhou
Suzhou’s newest Korean-style dining bar, Creation, blends authentic cuisine, moody lighting, and oversized cocktails in a stylish setting.
Why Korean Cafés Are Thriving: 5 Key Success Factors
Discover the five reasons behind the rapid success of Korean-style cafés, from design to supply chain strategy.
How Hospital and Bank Coffee Shops Are Changing Customer Experience
Pacific Coffee’s hospital and bank locations offer comfort and convenience—here’s how these unique café concepts perform and why they work.
Philippines' 2014 Coffee Crop Falls, Robusta Output Drops
In 2014, the Philippines saw a 4.06% drop in Robusta coffee output to 7.56 metric tons, but exports nearly doubled to 12,000 60kg bags.
Yunnan Coffee Farmers Hope for Better Prices Amid Bumper Crop
Yunnan coffee farmers produced 370–400 tonnes of fresh cherries in 2023, but face uncertain global prices. Here’s what affects their earnings.
Meet Beijing’s Coffee Perfectionist: Roaster Uncle Bean
Discover how Beijing-based roaster and importer Uncle Bean turned his obsession with perfect coffee into a decades-long mission.
Inside Malaysia’s OldTown White Coffee Cafes
Discover how OldTown White Coffee’s Malaysian cafes compare to its instant version, with prices, flavors, and local pairings revealed.
March LIFFE Coffee Futures Fall as Sugar & Cocoa Shift
March Arabica coffee futures rose slightly but closed lower for the fifth straight month, while sugar hit multi-week lows due to oversupply fears.
KFC Launches 10 Yuan Freshly Ground Coffee in Shenzhen
KFC now sells 10 yuan freshly ground coffee in over 140 Shenzhen locations, expanding its affordable coffee offer beyond 900 restaurants nationwide.
Why Doggie Bag Coffee Is More Than Just a Weird Combo
Dog-friendly coffee chain Goliath’s China expansion via Goubuli shows how food pairings can work — if done right. Here’s what the numbers and logic say.
How Experts Advise Growing and Selling Pu'er Coffee Globally
Industry leaders share strategies for elevating Pu'er coffee quality, building international markets, and embracing both modern and traditional branding.
How Chinese Coffee Shops Became Startup Hubs and Job Boards
A 2011-founded Zhengzhou cafe called HuiGu Coffee became a startup networking hub and informal recruiter—here’s how it works.