Coffee expo draws huge crowd

The three-day CAFEEX 2024 brought together coffee enthusiasts from Shenzhen and neighboring GBA cities at the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center in Futian District for a weekend filled with the aroma of the coffee beans.

Over 250 coffee brands from both home and overseas, such as the globally renowned Barsetto and La Marzocco, set up booths at the event, showcasing their latest coffee offerings to the crowd. Among the array of exhibits were various coffee appliance brands showcasing a range of equipment including hand grinders, electric portable grinders, filter cups and other coffee accessories, readily available for visitors to interact with firsthand.

Champion baristas and skilled coffee roasters were specially invited to demonstrate their craft at the event. Individuals like Jooyeon Jeon of Momos Coffee, who won the 2019 World Barista Championship, and Ryan Wilhawa of Indonesia’s Common Grounds Coffee shared their expertise at the coffee-themed forums during the exhibition, captivating numerous coffee aficionados.

Figures show that Shenzhen boasted more than 17,000 coffee shops as of the end of 2023, leading the nation in coffee shop density. China’s coffee market is estimated to grow to 1 trillion yuan (US$139.57 billion) in 2025, according to research institute iiMedia Research. The huge potential has drawn an surge of coffee giants and entrepreneurs to compete in the local market.

The event was covered by Shenzhen Daily photographer Liu Xudong.