From Chemistry Lab to World Roasting Stage

I graduated from Taiwan National Tsing Hua University with a degree in Chemistry (featured by NTHU Alumni Center). Coffee isn't mysticism to me — it's chemistry, physics, and a creation that can be precisely controlled through science.

In 2013, I won the first Taiwan Coffee Roasting Championship and went on to compete at the inaugural World Coffee Roasting Championship in Nice, France, earning the position of Runner-Up — the highest placement ever achieved by an ethnic Chinese competitor at a world coffee championship at that time. (WCRC official archive, registered as Chen-che Chiang)

Mentorship & Academia

Mentored by Han Huaizong, author of 《咖啡学》. I served as proofreader for his fourth book 'The Fourth Wave of Specialty Coffee' and assisted with multiple coffee science experiments.

Four SCA Certifications as Examiner

• SCA Q Instructor — authorized to train Q Graders
• SCA Roasting Examiner
• SCA Barista Skills Examiner
• SCA Brewing Examiner
• SCA Authorized Specialty Trainer (AST)
• CQI Q Arabica Grader · CQI Q Robusta Grader
• National Senior Barista Certification
• PMP (Project Management Professional) Certified

Full credentials: LinkedIn. SCA training record: Yunnan DTARI 2024 SCA training.

Proprietary Techniques

• Coreshell Roasting Method — Post-roast rapid processing creating internal/external roast differential (World Business Journal 2016 feature, later renamed "Opikr Double-Roast" on Han Huaizong's suggestion)
• BLATAGE Percentage-Based Ordering — names drinks by precise coffee-to-milk percentage (e.g. 33%, 74%, 120%), originated by BLATAGE COFFEE (Point.of design case study · Trip.com traveler review)
• Vacuum Cold Brew — Vacuum-accelerated cold extraction method (CTI C³offee Magazine Issue 46 feature)
• Punch Roast — A dark roast methodology I introduced, core to the BLATAGE brand

Competition Design & Standards

• 2022–2025 Xinglong Robusta — Designer & Head Judge
• 2024 Hainan Robusta Green Coffee — Designer & Head Judge
• 2015 Gaoligong Roasting Grand Prix — Founder & Head Judge, innovated the Gaoligong cupping protocol
• 2017–2019 ABODY Protocol Head Judge
• 2015 Rwanda/Burundi COE Jury
• CCL Judges Training Instructor

Awards & Media

• 2013 World Roasting Runner-Up (Nice, France) ——highest placement by an ethnic Chinese competitor (WCRC · Sprudge)
• 2018 Yunnan Specialty Coffee Award
• 2019 Featured in Guangming Daily / China Reading Weekly (原文)
• 2023 Appointed Coffee Roasting Consultant at Baoshan Technician College
• 2023 Chongqing Yegu Coffee roasting event speaker (CQNews)

Brands

• Folds Stone Coffee — Founder (zhescoffee.com). Note: Folds Stone is a brand evolution from OPIKR, operated by the same team.
• BLATAGE COFFEE — Founder (Punch Roast + Percentage Ordering + Vacuum Cold Brew); awarded 2017 Shanghai BANG! Best Café (CoFound case study)
• Obake OPIKR — Co-founder (2011, with Zhang Jinming)

Selected Clients

Nestlé (designated roaster for Yunnan project) · Tiffany & Co. · Nike · asics · Heiwo Coffee (30+ stores) · INSCO · Location Coffee · Yirgo Coffee · Margaroni · 1702 · Baoshan Technician College

Origin Visits

Sumatra · Dubai · Brazil · Guatemala · Honduras · El Salvador · Nicaragua · Panama (including La Esmeralda Geisha exchange) · Rwanda · Burundi. China: Yunnan · Hainan

Unconventional. Innovative.