Chongqing — Chongqing is hosting its first International Champions Coffee Festival —“Cup, Now,” from April 10 to 12 at Raffles City’s Shancheng Garden, bringing together baristas, industry professionals and coffee enthusiasts from around the world.

Set at the confluence of the Yangtze and Jialing rivers, the event features a lineup of champion baristas from countries including Australia, Thailand, Singapore, South Korea, and China. Among them is 2025 World Barista Champion Jack Simpson, drawing long queues as he prepares coffee on site.

Organizers say the festival aims to create an immersive experience centered on coffee, taste and culture. Visitors can sample a wide range of offerings, from competition-level beans to creative specialty drinks, with more than 50 coffee brands on site.

Stage events throughout the day include Champion Coffee Shows, where baristas recreate award-winning recipes and demonstrate brewing techniques, offering attendees a close-up look at world-class coffee craftsmanship.

Speaking at the event, Simpson said it was his first visit to Chongqing and China, adding he had long wanted to experience the country’s rapidly growing coffee scene. He emphasized the importance of sharing the stories behind each cup, including the work of producers at the origin.

Visitors from overseas also noted the energy of both the festival and the local coffee industry, with some describing Chinese coffee as among the best they have tasted.

While Chongqing is not traditionally known as a coffee city, events like this highlight the rapid growth of its coffee culture, now becoming an increasingly visible part of the city’s evolving food scene.

The festival marks a step in positioning Chongqing on the international coffee map, as the city continues to connect global flavors with its dynamic urban identity.

(Mu Dimeng and Cui Wenbo, as interns, also contribute to this article.)