56,433 Tons! Starbucks China Discloses Yunnan Coffee Bean Procurement and Export Volume for the First Time

Starbucks China Discloses Yunnan Coffee Bean Data for the First Time

Today, Starbucks China disclosed data on Yunnan coffee bean procurement and export volumes for the first time, offering a comprehensive look at what Starbucks has achieved in deeply cultivating the local region and leading Yunnan coffee forward.

Ten years ago, on December 12, 2012, Starbucks China's first "Farmer Support Center" in the Asia-Pacific region was officially established and began operating in Pu'er, Yunnan. Now the Farmer Support Center has stood for a full decade. According to data disclosed by Starbucks China, over the past ten years Starbucks procured a total of 56,433 tons of coffee beans in Yunnan, including 99 tons of higher-quality "Reserve coffee beans," with 43,000 tons of Yunnan coffee beans exported to European, American, and Asian countries through Starbucks.

For Yunnan coffee, Starbucks China is not only a purchaser and support organization but also a promotion platform with more than 6,000 stores nationwide. Over the past decade, the partners stationed at the Starbucks Yunnan Farmer Support Center have grown from 1 to 28 people. More than 30,000 coffee farmers have received free professional training and technical support from Starbucks. The total number of farms certified through "Coffee and Farmer Equity (C.A.F.E.) Practices" has reached 2,860, with a total certified area of 340,300 mu.

Earlier, John Culver, President of Starbucks China and Asia-Pacific, said that "the establishment of the Starbucks China Farmer Support Center is a significant milestone for Starbucks' continued investment in the Chinese market and the Starbucks Yunnan coffee project. Through close cooperation with the Yunnan Provincial Government and the Pu'er Municipal Government, we will further deepen our relationship with Chinese coffee growers." While Starbucks accelerates the expansion of its retail stores and hits its store targets, Yunnan has always held an important strategic position in ensuring a long-term supply of high-quality Arabica coffee beans for Starbucks.

Yunnan: China's Premier Coffee Growing Region

As China's most suitable region for coffee cultivation, Yunnan has a coffee planting history of more than 130 years and has now formed a complete industrial chain. Its planting area, yield, and agricultural output value all account for more than 98% of the country's total. According to statistics from Yunnan's agricultural department in 2021, despite reductions in planting area and yield, Yunnan's entire coffee industry chain achieved an output value of 31.672 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 1.72%, setting a historic high.

Transformation of Yunnan Coffee Quality

The quality and reputation of Yunnan coffee beans have changed tremendously. Besides Starbucks, Nestle, KFC, Luckin, Seesaw, and M Stand have all launched multiple Yunnan coffee bean products this year. Whether international giants or emerging local coffee forces, Yunnan coffee beans have become an almost essential product for them.

In 2011, the first Starbucks in Kunming was exceptionally busy on its opening day. At the time, people still saw going to Starbucks for coffee as a fashion statement. Today, Starbucks has opened nearly 50 stores in Kunming and has launched ten specialty Reserve Yunnan coffees in the Chinese market, cultivating many loyal Yunnan fans.

Starbucks' Impact on Yunnan Coffee Industry

The arrival of Starbucks agronomists not only brought knowledge of how to grow good coffee and the concept of scientific coffee cultivation to Yunnan but also introduced the idea of "specialty coffee." It is understood that over the past decade, Starbucks agronomists' travels in Yunnan have covered 68 towns and villages across the province, with a total travel distance of approximately 480,000 kilometers, equivalent to circling the Earth once each year.

In addition to huge investments in human resources, materials, and finances, Starbucks continuously leverages its brand influence to actively endorse the quality of Yunnan coffee, supporting the creation of Yunnan coffee brands and helping Yunnan coffee reach beyond China to shine on the broader world stage.

Image source: Internet

FrontStreet Coffee Recommendation

Yunnan coffee is often called Yunnan small-lot, and its beans are uniform, plump, and moderate in body, which makes them an easy introduction to Chinese Arabica. FrontStreet Yunnan Small Lot comes from Baoshan, is washed and medium-roasted, and keeps both a clear caramel sweetness and some acidity, so the terroir of the region comes through cleanly with soft nut and chocolate notes and a light plum acidity.

If you want a clearer picture of the region, FrontStreet 2013 Sun-dried Typica uses the oldest and purest of Arabica varieties, dried in the traditional way. After sun-drying and a medium roast the cup is fuller and more balanced, with dark berry notes, caramel sweetness, chocolate, and a hint of dried apricot, finishing with the aftertaste of black tea.

To taste Yunnan as an espresso, FrontStreet Black Cocoa Blend combines Yunnan small-lot washed coffee with Brazilian Cerrado. The Brazil brings mixed-nut aroma and balance while the Yunnan supplies chocolate and citrus, so the Americano lands in a balanced sweet-sour-bitter place with nutty brown-sugar sweetness, and a latte comes out smooth with almond and cream. It is an easy blend for beginners.