China's First World Coffee Champion Wu Zelin Opens Coffee Shop in the Air?!

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The Journey of Tse-lin Wu: China's First World Coffee Champion

Tse-lin Wu, the 2016 World Barista Championship (WBC) winner, became the first world coffee champion from China.

After observing the 2008 WBC World Coffee Championship in Copenhagen, Tse-lin Wu began pushing a tricycle cart at markets to sell coffee and practice his craft. In 2011, he established his first Simple Kaffa coffee shop.

After opening his first coffee shop, Wu began preparing for competitions. Starting in 2013, he won the Taiwan Barista Championship for three consecutive years and ultimately claimed the championship title at the 2016 WBC.

The Foundation of Success: Quality and Consistency

When Simple Kaffa first opened, like all new coffee shops, business was slow with only a few coffees sold daily. However, unlike many new shops that focus on promotion, Wu maintained strict control over all his coffee products.

He personally handled everything from coffee bean quality and roasting to final preparation, while consistently working behind the bar to serve every customer with the utmost professionalism. This approach greatly helped his future competitions as he gained precise understanding of different coffee consumers' experiences and product needs.

Growth and Recognition

After winning the World Coffee Championship, Wu opened two additional branches in Taiwan's bustling commercial areas. Simple Kaffa was also ranked #1 among the world's 50 best coffee shops by the renowned travel website Big 7 Travel in both 2019 and 2020.

Despite continuous expansion and growing fame, Wu maintained strict control over all store offerings and set extremely rigorous standards for barista selection.

When I visited Taiwan a few years ago, I explored this shop. All baristas were competition-experienced professionals with exceptionally deep understanding of coffee knowledge.

The Art of Coffee Service

Regarding coffee service (as long as you're standing at the bar), the baristas provide what can be described as "one-on-one" service. When serving a customer, they focus intensely on the guest's experience. Throughout the coffee preparation process, baristas engage in conversation and explanation while consistently and meticulously crafting each drink.

Both the brand and product quality leave a lasting impression. Although not inexpensive, the experience is incredibly worthwhile and offers excellent value.

The success of a coffee shop depends on customer loyalty, as it not only creates a memorable impression but also encourages customers to mention the brand when discussing coffee in their daily lives. Achieving this effect requires professionalism, attention to detail, humility, and strict standards for all operations.

Reaching New Heights: Cloud Kaffa

Although the pandemic severely impacted the food and beverage industry, Simple Kaffa continued to grow thanks to its strong reputation. In mid-January this year, it expanded to the 88th floor of Taipei 101 building, opening an aerial experience flagship store named "Cloud Kaffa." Paired with high-altitude clouds and overlooking Taipei's beautiful scenery... (I want to go! The ultimate coffee experience combined with high-altitude views—the mere thought feels incredible!)

I heard that to help coffee enthusiasts better experience the feeling of being surrounded by daytime clouds, Wu specially developed the "Sky Blend" medium-dark roast, combining washed Ethiopian and washed Honduran beans. With notes of citrus, floral, dried fruit, and oolong tea, it allows tasters to imagine themselves floating in a sky city, surrounded by clouds and mist.

The Secret to Success

Perhaps success in any endeavor often depends on these seemingly simple yet detail-rich elements. The success of a master离不开 their own efforts, and the success of a coffee shop离不开 the operators' professionalism and excellent service experience.

Image source: Internet

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