There is plenty to surprise first-time visitors to mainland China, from shockingly efficient mass transit to deeply integrated digital-first communication and payment ecosystems.
But on a recent trip to Shanghai, I experienced an even greater surprise: a world-class coffee scene. My jet lag never stood a chance in the face of the caffeine tsunami I stepped into.
As of 2024, the city had 9,115 coffee shops – including more Starbucks than any other city – as reported by Dao Insights, a publication by the China-focused digital creative agency Qumin.
According to the United States Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service, “China’s coffee consumption surged almost 150 per cent in the last 10 years and is forecast to reach 6.3 million bags in 2024/25”, with each bag weighing 60kg (130lbs).
But Shanghai’s coffee scene is not just defined by quantity; it courses with style, creativity and quality. Coffee here is presented both seriously – George Jinyang Peng, owner of the Captain George Flavor Museum coffee shop, won the 2025 World Brewers Cup championship in May – and as a vehicle for eccentric but photogenic flights of fancy.
George Jinyang Peng, the owner of the Captain George Flavor Museum coffee shop, won the World Brewers Cup championship in 2025. Photo: Instagram/captain_george_2013
“No restaurant can resist a viral boost,” said local guide and author Christopher St Cavish.
