We met Jiaxiang (aka Ted) at the World of Coffee Busan this May. We found out we share similar experiences and instantly hit if off.
Jiaxiang's daily routine in March 2023 involved waking up at 6 am and going to bed at 2 am, making it the norm for him. The #01 roaster for October is Chilly Bean, founded by Zhang Jiaxiang, a former competitor in the New Zealand Barista Championship in 2023.
His coffee journey began as a barista in a local cafe in Shanghai in 2019. After moving to Auckland in 2022, he gained experience in roasting at atomic and ebony coffee. Competing in the New Zealand Barista Championship in 2023 further honed his skills and inspired him to pursue a career in coffee. He has since returned to Shanghai to continue roasting and is preparing to open his own shop.
Jiaxiang loves the diversity and unpredictability of coffee, always discovering new things even in the most routine tasks. His favorite coffee is the Long Black, specifically the Pink Bourbon varietal, for its juicy mouthfeel. Participating in the New Zealand Barista Championship was a challenging but rewarding experience for him, with long days of work followed by practice sessions until late at night. Looking back, he considers it an unforgettable and worthwhile experience.
We are excited to collab with them in our October coffee curation, and we hope you enjoy the coffee!