Captain and crew

Peng's journey has never been a solo act. Among the key members of his team is Li Jinkun, a high school classmate and now his longtime business partner. Since 2013, the two have been building their coffee dream together — opening cafes, diving into roasting, and now running a 100-person roasting facility and four shops across Guiyang, capital of Guizhou province, and Shanghai under the Captain George name.

Seven years ago, they began competing in brewing competitions, taking turns representing their team. Between them, they've already claimed several national titles. "We've always backed each other," Li says. "It's a true team effort."

In the month leading up to the 2025 competition, the team designed a detailed training plan tailored to the World Brewers Cup format. "It's not just about brewing a great cup within the time limit," Li explains. "You also have to articulate the entire process — explain the bean, the flavor profile, your technique. It's multitasking under pressure. Both your hands and your words have to be precise."

Unexpected challenges are common in competition. After every event, Peng's team sits down to review what happened, dissecting each moment to build experience for the next run.

Li recalls Peng's first foray into competition back in 2018 — even before the China contest began, Peng was already preparing beans for the world championship.

"He told us then that he was going to become world champion," Li says. "Back then, maybe only he believed it. But in 2025, he was still there, still focused, still chasing that same goal. And when the result was finally announced — I believed it."

Looking ahead, Peng says he wants to help his team members prepare for future competitions and hopes to mentor the next World Brewers Cup. Personally, he's also considering a new challenge: starting from scratch in coffee roasting competitions.

For him, coffee competitions are more than personal milestones — they drive the entire industry forward. "Preparing for a competition forces you to push your limits," he says. "And the dynamic of friendly competition and collaboration among baristas helps elevate the craft across the board.

"In recent years, tournaments in China have become increasingly competitive. At the same time, our skills are getting closer and closer to global standards."