2022 Taiwan Cup Tasting Champion. Qi-Huan Coffee, a Japanese-style kissaten that just moved from Bao’an Market to Minquan Road in Chiayi, now faces a leafy park and offers a far more spacious setting than before. On opening day, well-wishers streamed in without pause; a big red poster on the wall proclaimed: “Congratulations! Lin Chen-Chia crowned champion of the 2022 WCE World Cup Tasters Championship Taiwan Selection.” The whole shop was glowing with joy.
Cup-tasting champion Lin Chen-Chia is the owner-barista “A-Chi.” He fell in love with coffee in high school and has since devoted his life to the craft. He founded Qi-Huan Coffee in 2018; it remains one of Chiayi’s few cafés offering pour-over, espresso, AeroPress, cold brew, and drip-brew under one roof. Watching A-Chi work behind the bar is a pleasure in itself.
His roasting skills are no less impressive. The legendary “Chiayi market hidden-version cinnamon roll” is a Qi-Huan creation, famed for its generous filling and nicknamed by locals the “tough-guy cinnamon roll.” On rotation you’ll also find hazelnut-cocoa rolls, Tie-guan-yin tea rolls, sesame rolls, toast, dacquoises, tiramisu, and puddings—freshly made and limited daily.
Image source: Chiayi City Government Tourism & News Department | Photo: Marg