The Macao New Chinese Youth Association (YDS) co-hosted the opening ceremony with the Macau Science Centre (MSC) of the “Enjoy Macao with Coffee” coffee festival on Saturday, aiming to support youth entrepreneurship and the coffee culture, which will end on August 27.
YDS Deputy Secretary-General Cheong Ka Man said in a speech during the opening ceremony that youth innovation serves as the core driver of urban development, pledging ongoing entrepreneurial support to help the coffee industry transition from individual ventures to collective breakthroughs. She also said this event positions coffee aroma as a contemporary embodiment of Macau’s East-West cultural fusion.
According to YDS statement, this 24-day event brings together 25 local youth-led coffee brands. By providing exhibition spaces, facilitating public-private partnerships, and organising cultural activities, it creates growth opportunities for young entrepreneurs while helping local coffee brands overcome development challenges.
The statement said, the on-site “Coffee Knowledge Exhibition” systematically traces 300 years of coffee’s evolution in Macau through precious historical artifacts, including reproduced 1812 documents from Thirteen Factories of Canton and the original record of the term “架啡”, the earliest Chinese transliteration of “coffee” in Robert Morrison’s Vocabulary of the Canton Dialect.
According to the statement, this unique heritage is revered as the “roots and soul” of Macau’s coffee brands. YDS encourages young entrepreneurs to delve into this cultural legacy, organically integrating brand narratives with urban memory to elevate their businesses from “selling products” to “cultural storytelling”.
Johnbosco, owner of “Liber Coffee”, told the Post that the shop’s name was inspired by Liber, the Roman’s god of joy, symbolising their mission to spread happiness. As an actor-turned-barista, he aims to use the coffee festival to showcase the approachable side of pour-over culture, dispelling the stereotype that it’s ‘expensive and intimidating.’ Through this event, he hopes to let customers effortlessly enjoy hand-brewed coffee at various prices.
Grace, owner of “Ace Pastry”, told the Post that her shop’s name derives from the latter half of her own name “Ace” symbolising positivity and excellence. For this coffee festival, she has specially created limited-edition desserts and set menus, aiming to let customers experience her signature pastries’ unique flavours while enjoying their coffee. Through these carefully curated pairings, she hopes to achieve the perfect harmony between specialty coffee and artisanal desserts.
The event held in the heart-shaped Tree Square in front of Macau Science Centre from Saturday until August 27. The event will run daily from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. admission is free.
Liber Coffee owner named Johnbosco preparing coffee at his booth yesterday.
Ace Pastry owner Grace (right) and staff standing around her booth yesterday.
Coffee aficionados flock to the “Enjoy Macao with Coffee” Coffee Festival in the heart-shaped Tree Square in front of Macau Science Centre yesterday. – Photos by Armindo Neves
