At the beginning of the fall semester last month, Yunnan Agricultural University held an unusual introductory class on coffee for students enrolled in a new program.

Freshmen in the Coffee Science and Engineering program learned roasting techniques, how to identify different coffee varieties and grade green coffee beans, as well as extraction and brewing methods.

As China's coffee industry thrives, the demand for highly skilled professionals in the industry is growing. In response, the university launched the country's first coffee-related undergraduate program this year.

The first group of 100 students from 11 provinces and regions has begun studies at the university's Tropical Crops College, which is located in Pu'er — a region in Southwest China's Yunnan province renowned for growing high-quality tea and Coffea arabica plants.

Yang Xuehu, dean of the college, said the program's comprehensive curriculum includes foundational courses in food science and engineering, along with specialized subjects such as coffee flavor chemistry and coffee processing.