Yunnan Coffee: A New Note On The Global Coffee Map

By Cui Yin, People’s Daily

Every cup of coffee embodies the essence of its origin – the bold richness of Brazil, the vibrant brightness of Jamaica, and the delicate freshness of Ethiopia. Now, Yunnan province in southwest China is adding a new chapter to this global narrative, offering a distinctly Chinese flavor that is gaining recognition worldwide.

This evolution was evident at the inaugural 2025 Gems of Yunnan Green Coffee Competition (Yunnan CoE Pilot Program). Held in Baoshan, Yunnan, the competition marked a significant milestone: the first CoE-related competition hosted in the province. From 144 entries, 19 coffee samples achieved scores exceeding 87 points – qualifying them as world-class – after rigorous blind tastings by international judges.

The top-scoring beans, grown in Lincang, Yunnan, fetched a record 13,000 yuan ($1,813.65) per kilogram at auction, setting a new benchmark for Chinese coffee sales. More importantly, the competition brought the province within the purview of one of the world’s most respected coffee evaluation systems, signaling its transformation from a raw material supplier to a potential standard-setter in the global coffee industry.

Founded in Brazil in 1999, the CoE has reshaped the coffee landscape by combining competition with transparent auction mechanisms. By making information about bean variety, processing methods, pricing, and producers publicly available, it has established new benchmarks for traceability and quality.

During the competition, each carefully selected coffee underwent a rigorous evaluation process: roasting, grinding, weighing, and on-site brewing, followed by multiple cupping sessions. A panel of over a dozen professional judges assessed each sample based on cleanliness, sweetness, acidity, mouthfeel, and flavor complexity. A Brazilian farmer named Oliveira, whose beans achieved an impressive 90 points, could barely contain his excitement.

Over the past two decades, CoE competitions have been hosted in more than ten countries, showcasing emerging producers in regions like Honduras and Costa Rica. This has broadened the global map of prized coffee-producing regions, simultaneously elevating quality standards and improving farmer incomes.

Producing high-quality coffee demands a combination of ideal natural conditions and meticulous cultivation. The best coffee regions are typically mountainous, situated at elevations above 1,000 meters, with significant diurnal temperature variations and distinct wet and dry seasons – conditions that also present greater challenges and higher management costs.

Yunnan, located within the global golden belt for coffee cultivation, boasts a coffee-growing history spanning over a century and now accounts for 98 percent of China’s total coffee output. Recent advancements in variety improvement, standardized farming practices, and processing technologies have propelled Yunnan’s progress. The proportion of specialty-grade beans increased from 40 percent in 2022 to 70 percent in 2024, while deep processing rates rose from 60 percent to 85 percent. These attributes have helped establish Yunnan coffee as a symbol of premium quality.

Coffee, as a global commodity, embodies the confluence of cultures across continents. In China, its popularity has surged in recent years. Shanghai has surpassed New York and London to become the city with the highest number of coffee shops worldwide. Among younger generations, coffee drinking has evolved into a social ritual and a lifestyle statement. This cultural adaptation reflects a broader ethos within Chinese civilization: the principle of harmony without uniformity, an openness to global influences seamlessly integrated into a distinctly Chinese context.

Yunnan’s emergence on the global coffee stage offers the world a new flavor – both literally and figuratively – through which to experience China’s diversity and openness.

Looking ahead, Yunnan is well-positioned to further strengthen its role in the global coffee industry by refining cultivation techniques, expanding markets, building brands, and fostering innovation throughout the supply chain, thereby establishing a virtuous cycle where quality generates value, and value drives profitability. With sustained effort, Yunnan coffee will further shape the global perception of Chinese coffee culture.