Introduction:In 2017, the inaugural Guangzhou Specialty Coffee Culture Festival made a grand debut at the Cultural Square of 289 Art Park, bringing together renowned specialty coffee shops across the city to showcase coffee beans from various countries, champion roasters' works, and a diverse range of merchandise. This article takes you on a complete retrospective of the highlights of that year’s market, the exciting interactive activities, and a list of must-visit coffee shops. Whether you’re a pour over beginner or a seasoned coffee enthusiast, you’re sure to find inspiration and enjoyment here.
In July 2017, Guangzhou hosted its first lifestyle market centered around specialty coffee — the Guangzhou Specialty Coffee Culture Festival, held at the Cultural Square of 289 Art Park. The event gathered top-tier specialty coffee brands in the city, offering tastings of coffee beans from multiple origins, including freshly roasted batches by champion roasters, as well as creative specials, drip bags, pour over equipment, and cultural merchandise. Beyond coffee-related content, the venue also featured dessert stalls, craft beer stands, tattoo and handmade craft booths to cater to diverse interests.
Spanning 500 square meters, the event was a rare highlight in Guangzhou at the time that focused specifically on specialty coffee culture. Visitors could not only sample a variety of distinctive coffees in one place but also purchase coffee beans and drip bags personally roasted by champion roasters, choose uniquely designed pour over tools, and collect a variety of coffee-themed cultural products. The site also included several non-coffee themed booths such as a dessert area, craft beer stalls, and tattoo studios, making it suitable for family outings or group visits.
In the coffee shop exhibition area, the participating lineup included popular local favorites such as Haoye Coffee, Douzhan Coffee, BARISGO COFFEE, COVITA COFFEE, Roasted by Yadaco, PTN studio, WANTOK COFFEE, Yuanyuan Coffee, Dream House Coffee, Bank Coffee, Miji Coffee Training, Coffee Salon, Yiwa Coffee, Inge Coffee, Guangzhou Barista Coffee Academy, and Kumia Coffee, each showcasing their unique coffee styles and professional expertise.
The event also provided opportunities for direct interaction with professional baristas and roasters. The coffee bean selection spanned multiple producing countries including Brazil, Colombia, Guatemala, Yemen, and Jamaica, featuring varieties such as Mandheling, Huila, Kenya AA, Geisha, and the rarely seen "kopi luwak." Visitors could experience the unique flavors of different origins and varieties, as well as taste creative drinks specially crafted by champion baristas, pushing the boundaries of their taste buds.
Some booths specially introduced premium coffee beans rarely seen in China, or even never before available on the market. These rare and precious beans, produced in limited quantities, could only be tasted at the event, making it an unmissable opportunity for coffee lovers to try something new.
The dessert area was manned by a five-star pastry team, using high-quality ingredients and rigorous processes to create unforgettable sweet flavors that added another dimension to the coffee experience. Additionally, TIPSY Craft Beer Bar made an appearance, offering the most options of unpasteurized draft beer in Guangzhou at the time, along with its own signature brews, paired with recommendations from professional sommeliers, perfectly blending the aroma of coffee with a hint of tipsiness.
The event featured a diverse program, including not just coffee tastings but also a “Favorite Coffee Shop” voting campaign where the public could cast their votes by giving stamps to their favorite booths, with the most popular coffee shop ultimately determined by the number of stamps received. There was also a coffee tasting salon, inviting industry experts to lead two specialty coffee experience workshops. These sessions introduced the definition of specialty coffee, best extraction techniques, and analyzed the unique flavor profiles of coffee beans from different countries — suitable for both beginners and advanced participants.
The novice pour over competition was one of the highlights of the event, with scoring by SCA internationally certified judges/instructors (AST). Whether you're just starting out or a seasoned player, you could showcase your skills, with winners receiving exquisite coffee tools and limited-edition specialty coffee beans as prizes.
The event also featured an interactive entertainment area ideal for families and artsy visitors. This included a tattoo experience provided by Redink Tattoo, showcasing technical, edgy, and personalized styles, along with limited-time free tattoo offers.
The handmade crafts area featured independent design brand MARMOR, specializing in light customization of women’s suits, creating a living space that blends aesthetics with practicality.
To capture the memorable moments, the organizers specially set up several creative photo backdrops, allowing participants to showcase their personal style and freestyle with coffee as the theme. Whether for sharing on social media or cherishing memories, it was an unforgettable keepsake.
The inaugural Guangzhou Specialty Coffee Culture Festival was not just a coffee market, but also an open, diverse, and inspiring creative platform, bringing together coffee lovers, artisans, and lifestyle enthusiasts to create an unforgettable cultural fair. The event was organized by 289 Art Park and took place on July 22–23, 2017 (Saturday and Sunday), from 14:00 to 22:00 each day. It was located at No. 289, Guangzhou Avenue Middle, Yuexiu District, Guangzhou City (a short walk from Exit C of Wuyangcun Metro Station, or accessible by bus to Nanfang Baozhi Station).
The above content is compiled by CoffeeHunters, a coffee news website.
