By KHT Staff
CHIAYI — Coffee growers from across Chiayi County will gather at a former sugar factory Oct. 24–26 for the county’s first standalone “Taste Chiayi Coffee Festival” (啡嚐嘉義咖啡節), featuring 30 award-winning estates, brewing demonstrations and international coffee workshops.
The festival takes place in the eastern warehouses of Suantou Sugar Factory’s cultural park (蒜頭糖廠蔗埕文化園區) in Lioujiao Township (六腳鄉). According to the event poster, the hours are 1:30–5:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, and 10:30 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Sunday and Monday, Oct. 25–26.
A coffee estate showcase will bring together producers from Alishan (阿里山), Meishan (梅山), Jhuci (竹崎), Fanlu (番路) and Jhongpu (中埔). Visitors can explore how growing altitude, bean varieties and processing methods shape the region’s coffees, the county government said in its festival announcement.
Warehouse No. 5 will feature coffee equipment and brewing traditions from Turkey, Italy, France, Japan, Vietnam and Belgium, alongside workshops led by coffee professionals from Taiwan, Japan and South Korea. Warehouse No. 6 will host brewing demonstrations, coffee equipment displays and comparisons between Alishan beans and coffees from other growing regions.
Guests include Japanese coffee professional Yuya Iwasaki (岩崎裕也) and world siphon brewing champion Chang Wei-hsin (張維欣). Organizers also plan limited tastings of specialty coffees and award-winning desserts. On Oct. 26, a professional coffee tasting, known as cupping, and a public specialty coffee auction will be held; advance registration is required.
Chiayi County Magistrate Weng Chang-liang (翁章梁) said the county previously promoted coffee alongside its tea expo. This year’s separate festival gives coffee growers their own event following successes in domestic and international competitions.
Festival promotions include prize draws for purchases of at least NT$250, draws for passengers on the factory’s narrow-gauge railway, and stamp-collection giveaways. Program updates and registration information are available through the organizers’ Taste Chiayi Facebook page.
