Coffee People: Chris So
Chris So, beverage consultant, coach, judge, and educator, United Kingdom. Four questions — everything the industry rarely stops to hear.
Coffee people.
The Better Coffee Standard defines it precisely: everyone whose life and work are bound to coffee, at every stage of the coffee circle — including those working under coercion, economic dependency, or without pay. Their families. Those who keep them standing.
Read more in the free The Better Coffee Standard.
The industry never stops talking about coffee. It rarely stops to talk about the people behind it. Red Ink Coffee exists, in part, to change that.
Coffee People is a series of portraits. Four questions — their voices.
Who are you and what do you do in coffee?
Based in the United Kingdom, I am a beverage consultant, coach, judge, and educator with 18 years of industry experience across coffee, wine, spirits, and cocktails. My career began in Hong Kong as a mechanical engineer, during which I wrote and taught about wine part-time before turning my hobby into a full-time profession. My deep passion for coffee ignited when I discovered the magic of espresso during winery trips to Italy, and I now travel the world for consulting work and coffee competitions.
A moment in your work with coffee that you're genuinely proud of.
As a dual-region champion, I won the inaugural Hong Kong Coffee in Good Spirits Championship in 2018 — leaving a legacy with my signature Irish Coffee recipe that is still served daily at Accro Coffee in Yuen Long — and secured the United Kingdom Coffee in Good Spirits title in 2024 by showcasing well-fermented coffees in low-alcohol cocktails. Having since judged this competition globally to elevate the culture of coffee cocktails.
One problem you see in your part of the coffee world — and why it matters to you personally.
The specialty market currently focuses more on promoting exotic varieties and processing methods. I really hope to shift the spotlight toward sustainable practices, soil management, and agricultural longevity. I used my recent 2026 UK Barista Championship routine to advocate for soil health and the vital role of minerals in coffee quality.
What would you change if you could — and what would better look like for you?
Ultimately, I hope to see the creation of global foundations and educational funds that lower financial entry barriers, making coffee education and championships accessible to all aspiring professionals.
You are coffee people. Tell us.
Four questions. Any language. Any format.
- Who are you and what do you do in coffee?
- A moment you're genuinely proud of.
- One problem in your part of the coffee world — and why it matters to you.
- What would you change — and what would better look like?
Include a short bio and a photo from your work environment. Send your answers to redinkcoffee@thebettercoffee.org
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