Chinese barista Peng Jinyang (C) competes in the 2025 World Brewers Cup (WBC) in Jakarta, Indonesia, on May 15, 2025.

Peng Jinyang, a barista and coffee shop owner of Captain George in Guiyang, recently clinched the champion title at the 2025 World Brewers Cup (WBC) in Indonesia. He noticed that under the same conditions, even if three cups of coffee were brewed consecutively, there would be subtle differences in the taste of each cup.

His skill comes from years of refining his palate, through which he discovered how the temperature variations between the spout and the center of the coffeepot impact flavor. This became the theme of his WBC presentation, which won high praise from the judges.

In 2012, Peng, then a college student with an interest in the rich flavor produced by roasting coffee beans, co-founded a coffee shop with a fellow barista in Guiyang. At that time, domestic coffee information was scarce, and the types of coffee beans were limited. With the support of his parents, he bought a coffee roasting machine and learned about roasting from English-language videos.

To improve his techniques, he attended coffee seminars across China and, in 2019, started to invite global coffee champions to give lessons in Guiyang. With expertise, Peng took home the champion prize at the TAKAO International Coffee Competition in 2016, and captained his team to win the WBC China champion title for four consecutive years since 2022.

"'Bringing in' these champions is crucial for accessing the latest coffee knowledge and ensuring that baristas in Guiyang, despite it being an inland city, stay at the forefront of the coffee industry," Peng said. (Xinhua)

An aerial drone photo shows customers waiting to enjoy coffee outside Peng Jinyang's coffee shop Captain George, in Yunyan District of Guiyang, southwest China's Guizhou Province, June 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Yang Wenbin)

Chinese barista Peng Jinyang (C) competes in the 2025 World Brewers Cup (WBC) in Jakarta, Indonesia, on May 15, 2025. (Xinhua)

Peng Jinyang, the champion of the 2025 World Brewers Cup (WBC), views the championship trophy in Guiyang, southwest China's Guizhou Province, May 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu)

Peng Jinyang, the champion of the 2025 World Brewers Cup (WBC), makes hand drip coffee at his company in Guiyang, southwest China's Guizhou Province, May 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu)

Peng Jinyang, the champion of the 2025 World Brewers Cup (WBC), makes hand drip coffee at his company in Guiyang, southwest China's Guizhou Province, May 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu)

Peng Jinyang, the champion of the 2025 World Brewers Cup (WBC), makes hand drip coffee at his company in Guiyang, southwest China's Guizhou Province, May 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu)

Peng Jinyang, the champion of the 2025 World Brewers Cup (WBC), is pictured at his company in Guiyang, southwest China's Guizhou Province, May 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu)

Peng Jinyang, the champion of the 2025 World Brewers Cup (WBC), is pictured at his company in Guiyang, southwest China's Guizhou Province, May 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu)

Peng Jinyang, the champion of the 2025 World Brewers Cup (WBC), presents the championship trophy in Guiyang, southwest China's Guizhou Province, May 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu)

Peng Jinyang, the champion of the 2025 World Brewers Cup (WBC), is pictured at his company in Guiyang, southwest China's Guizhou Province, May 23, 2025. (Xinhua/Ou Dongqu)

Chinese barista Peng Jinyang (C) celebrates winning the championship in the 2025 World Brewers Cup (WBC) in Jakarta, Indonesia, in May 2025. (Xinhua)

Chinese barista Peng Jinyang (C) celebrates winning the championship in the 2025 World Brewers Cup (WBC) in Jakarta, Indonesia, in May 2025. (Xinhua)