Mastering the art of the bean

The table in Qi Xiaolan's coffee classroom accommodates 12 people.

Usually it requires sips from at least three cups to assess the quality of the beans, she said.

Also, coffee tasting is not only a matter of personal interest but an important way to help set the price of coffee beans, which can in turn affect the income of coffee farmers, Qi said.

Now, after getting to know a number of people who love coffee and who have tasting skills, Qi has gained access to quality green coffee beans of her own. She has renovated one of her apartments into a coffee classroom to communicate with others having the same interest.

The 150-square-meter house is equipped with all the equipments required to make and taste coffee, as well as a table that accommodates 12 people.

The classroom, she said, is open to family members and a small number of other local people from all walks of life.

The number of coffee tasters in China is "far fewer" than in countries where coffee is more popular, according to Qi. But that doesn't seem to bother her. A lot of young people in China are showing enthusiasm for coffee tasting, and the number of tasters is "increasing every year", she said.

"Everyone has their own goals and life interest", she added.

Studying coffee can be costly. Qi has spent about 300,000 yuan ($43,600) on her hobby.

"The biggest benefit of studying coffee is that it has opened a window for me to look through into the world," Qi said.

"I love beautiful things. After I started studying coffee, I met a lot of people who also love it. And that started a totally different life for me."

Yang Jie in Fuzhou contributed to this story.