Coffee was equally fashionable during the Japanese colonial period. In 1912, the first officially-backed coffee shop, "Lion Coffee Shop" opened its doors, serving coffee, tea, alcohol, and cuisine. Private establishments soon followed with similar offerings.

According to 2022 International Trade Center statistics, Taiwan's coffee bean import value grew 7.4% over the past decade—ranking third globally among major countries, trailing only China and Turkey, while the world average actually declined by 0.01%.

Despite this import growth, Taiwan's homegrown coffee beans account for only a single-digit percentage of total consumption. The main growing regions include Alishan in Chiayi County, Gukeng in Yunlin County, Dongshan in Tainan City, and Wutai in Pingtung County. Small in quantity but exceptional in quality, the subtropical terroir cultivates distinctive island flavors. Alishan has become a champion bean cradle, with auction prices reaching an astonishing record of over NT$30,000 per kilogram.

Taiwan consistently excels in global coffee competitions

The rapidly growing coffee consumer base has attracted a surge of talent to the industry. Over the past decade, Taiwan has triumphed in major international coffee competitions across roasting, cupping, and brewing—defeating all European and American powerhouses to claim championships. Most notably, Berg Wu's victory in the 2016 World Barista Championship (WBC) represents the ultimate honor in the field.

Taiwan's coffee industry has pivoted toward specialty development in recent years, with coffee farmers adopting estate-style cultivation alongside a "Bean to Cup" philosophy and process. This approach showcases not only Taiwan's distinctive flavors—from a single green bean to an aromatic cup, from cultivation to roasting—but also embodies a beautiful commitment to environmental sustainability.

The advertising tagline "I'm either at a café or on my way to one" vividly captures the essence of everyday Taiwanese life. Today, office workers routinely grab their daily coffee from convenience stores before heading to work, while cafés dot every street corner and alley throughout the island.