Coffee culture in changchun

Coffee culture is becoming quite popularin China in recent years. Especially amongst the Chinese youth they have been enjoying the atmosphere of coffeebars. With the modernization of China it had been adapting new cultures from all over the world. Drinking a coffee is new habit which has been developing in modern China. China is the country which gave the world with new inventions including tea. Since Chinese people are more conscious about their health they prefer to drink different kinds of tea. But since last few years drinking coffee is the new trend in China. Since China is not so popular for coffee bars and Chinese brands of coffee, buying a coffee or visiting coffee bar is quite expensive.

Coffee benenear main campus of JLU Photo: Ayash Joshi

There many coffee bars around the main campus of Jilin University and major customers of such coffee bars are Chinese students. Many students like to meet their friends in coffee bars to have a nice chit chat. Whenever I visita coffee bar, I see quite few people and most of them are busy reading some books. Since coffee is not produced in China such coffee bars charge premium price. Whichever coffee bar we go it’s bit expensive. Specially compared to cost of same coffee in my country, I am supposed to pay twice the price for the same thing.

There are few outlets of Starbucks in Changchun located at prime locations. Near the main campus of Jilin University I prefer to visit Caffe bene and Coffeegarden. These coffee bars are quiet and I can do my important talks with friends in much convenience. But sadly most of the coffees offered in these coffee bars are instant coffee. Some of the popular coffee brands in China are Maxwell and Nescafe; these coffees can be found in any departmental stores.

In China people do not go to coffee bars just they like the coffee or its taste neither they are addicted to coffee as in western culture. The most important thing to be considered while visiting coffee bars in China is its atmosphere and the feeling that customers get when they enter inside the coffee house. Starbucks has been successfully operating in China with its brand image and ability to provide same atmosphere and make the customer feel it’s coolto drink coffee and especially coffee at Starbucks. Customers feel proud while holding the coffee cup with the logo of Starbucks. It means people are not paying for the coffee but for the special feeling that they get when they enter into the coffee bar.