Founded in 2020, City of Refuge Coffee was established by a coffee enthusiast who couldn’t study abroad due to the pandemic. Influenced by his father, he obtained his Q-Arabica Certification at 18. Rooted in Pu’er, Yunnan, the brand boasts a full industry chain from planting to roasting, dedicated to promoting Yunnan specialty coffee with warmth in every cup.
The name "City of Refuge" symbolizes shelter and tranquility, offering peace to busy individuals. Our young and creative team combines tradition and innovation to promote local coffee. Since 2019, we have participated in the Golden Bean Roaster Competition and won 1 gold, 8 silver, and 29 bronze medals, maintaining outstanding results over seven years. We cooperate closely with coffee farmers to improve planting standards and ensure fair incomes, while providing SCA-certified courses and training to nurture industry talents. In the future, City of Refuge Coffee will continue to focus on Yunnan coffee and optimize consumer experiences. Our consistent belief is to let the world see Yunnan coffee and make Chinese flavors spread globally. "Pu’er Coffee for the World; Yunnan Coffee, Representing China" is our unremitting dream.
The name "City of Refuge" comes from an ancient tale, representing a safe haven and a place of shelter. We take this meaning, hoping that anyone, anywhere, at any time, can find peace and protection in our "City of Refuge". Born in Pu’er, a small border town in southwest China and the largest coffee-producing area in Yunnan, the city is steeped in tea fragrance, which endows local coffee with unique aroma and flavor. City of Refuge Coffee is a shelter created by a group of young people to escape the hustle and bustle of the city and seek inner peace. With our own coffee plantation, fresh fruit processing plant, roastery and independent cafes, we leverage our origin advantages to build a complete "from seed to cup" chain, and we are eager to share a warm cup of Yunnan coffee with everyone.
Behind the warm and inspiring story of the movie 《Coffee or Tea?》, lies a true legend of Yunnan coffee — the entrepreneurial story of Coffee Commune. Opening the pages of Coffee Commune P86+, we can glimpse this touching story that has transformed the fate of Yunnan coffeesuperscript:3">.
Behind the warm and inspiring story of the movie Coffee or Tea?, lies a true legend of Yunnan coffee — the entrepreneurial story of Coffee Commune. Opening the pages of Coffee Commune P86+, we can glimpse this touching story that has transformed the fate of Yunnan coffee. In 2014, when Yunnan coffee was still trapped in the dilemma of being a "low-priced bulk commodity", Zhu Hewen, founder of Coffee Commune, led his team to start in-depth research and development on Yunnan Catimor variety. After five years of exploring fermentation processes and roasting curves, they finally brought Chinese coffee to the international stage for the first time in 2019 — winning the Silver Medal at the Golden Bean Roaster Competition, a breakthrough achievement that served as the prototype for the entrepreneurial story of the three protagonists in the movie.
"At that time, Yunnan beans could only be sold for 15-20 yuan per kilogram in the international market, and coffee farmers could barely see any hope," recalled Zhu Hewen. Starting with variety improvement, Coffee Commune finally made Yunnan Catimor beans show amazing flavor potential through innovative fermentation processing and precise roasting curve control — bright citrus acidity and honey-like sweetness, which completely subverted the industry's perception of Chinese coffee.
His son, Zhu Yahui, a post-2000s barista who grew up surrounded by the aroma of coffee from his father since childhood, has now become a full-course SCA instructor, continuing to write the indissoluble bond between his family and Yunnan coffee. "What we aim to do is not only grow good coffee, but also build a complete industrial chain from planting to roasting," said Zhu Yahui.
The story of Coffee Commune is far more than just a medal. They have established a complete industrial system: from controlling the planting altitude and innovating fermentation processes to adjusting roasting curves, every link embodies a commitment to quality. This "from seed to cup" full industrial chain model has increased the premium rate of Yunnan coffee from less than 5% in 2018 to 22.7% in 2023.
Our coffee plantation is located in Nandaohe Chashulin Village, Simao District, Pu'er City, at an altitude of 1,361 meters. The planting cooperative covers about 4,800 mu of coffee, with main varieties including Catimor, Typica, and Yellow Bourbon.
The fresh fruit processing plant is also located in the Nandaohe Plantation, Simao District, Pu'er City. It has a 900-square-meter sunlight drying room, a 600-square-meter open-air drying yard, and a professional temperature-controlled fermentation workshop.
The 700-square-meter coffee fine processing and hulling factory is located in Munahe Industrial Park, Pu'er City. Equipped with professional miniature hulling equipment, it can process up to 1,000 tons of green coffee beans annually. The 1,200-square-meter warehouse can store up to 2,000 tons of coffee.
The coffee roasting factory is located in Munahe Industrial Park, Pu'er City. The 500-square-meter roasting facility currently has an annual roasting capacity of 500 tons of green coffee beans, with ongoing expansion. Production is distributed across Beijing, Shenzhen, and Pu'er in Yunnan to enhance efficiency and stability.
We have professional instructors and equipment, providing training and certification services for those who wish to pursue a career in the specialty coffee industry. We also offer courses for coffee enthusiasts, as well as consulting services for those looking to open their own coffee shops.
