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C Story / Echo Lou
Liu Taiyang: T he interview with Liu Taiyang was arranged for the early morning

hours, when he had just arrived at the hotel in Shenyang by plane.
Over the past two months, the newly crowned champion of the
World Coffee Roasting Championship has been leading a hectic
schedule. As the first roaster from mainland China to win the title of World Cof-
fee Roasting Champion, Liu Taiyang’s achievement serves as yet another testa-
ment to China’s growing prowess on the global coffee scene.
Advancing with a View The First Decade of His Life

to Betterment Like countless others, Liu Taiyang’s foray into the coffee industry was fu-

eled by sheer passion. While still a university student, he began working part-
time in coffee shops, and in 2015, he invited Ye Weiwei, the 2017 China National
Barista Roasting Champion, to Nantong to collaborate on opening their first cof-
fee shop together, marking his official entry into the vibrant coffee community.
Shortly after, he joined forces with his current partners to establish a new brand,
evolving from the inaugural “Discovery Cafe” to the current “Pincle Coffee”,
which has now blossomed into seven distinct locations across Nantong. Deeply
passionate about coffee, Liu Taiyang stands on the cusp of celebrating a decade
in the industry. As he puts it, “I’ve paid my dues, navigated countless detours,
and it’s all led me to where I am today.”

Liu Taiyang, embodying the qualities often associated with introverted
(MBTI “i”-type) individuals, always leaves a cheerful impression, tinged with a
subtle shyness. The transition from being a barista at the start of his career to
becoming a roaster today feels more like a natural progression for him. “When I
first opened my shop in 2015, I used beans from Illy and Lavazza. Later, I started
using beans from M2M. Feeling empowered that if others could do it, so could I,
I embarked on a new chapter in my coffee roasting journey.” This marked a sig-
nificant milestone in his life.

Exclusive Interview

with Liu Taiyang,

the 2024 World
Coffee Roasting

Champion 41

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