The Coffee Academïcs, Hong Kong’s homegrown specialty coffee brand, has made history as the first local coffee brand to collaborate with Cathay Pacific, Hong Kong’s premier airline, bringing its signature blends to passengers taking to the skies. This milestone partnership showcases The Coffee Academïcs’ artisanal expertise while offering travellers a premium inflight coffee experience.
Founded in 2012, The Coffee Academïcs has transformed Hong Kong’s specialty coffee scene through its meticulously sourced beans, innovative roasting techniques and dedication to delivering a refined sensory experience. The brand operates a 930-square-metre roastery and a network of 40 coffee shops across Hong Kong and Southeast Asia, providing a one-stop solution for coffee lovers and partners alike.
The partnership involved extensive collaboration to develop a bespoke inflight coffee blend designed specifically for the skies. The process began with a careful review of passenger preferences and the unique challenges of serving coffee at altitude, where taste buds and sense of smell are naturally dulled. To overcome this, The Coffee Academïcs and Cathay Pacific teams held multiple tasting sessions, experimenting with roast levels and brewing methods using the same equipment found onboard.
After several rounds of refinement, the teams settled on a darker French roast profile, chosen for its ability to cut through the muted conditions of air travel. The final blend brings together beans from Vietnam and Brazil, prized for their depth and consistency, and was calibrated to maximise aroma while retaining balance in flavour. Named the Cathay Blend, it pays tribute to Hong Kong’s vibrant cultural heritage, with a flavour profile that combines the bold richness of dark cocoa, inspired by the city’s storied maritime past, with the gentle warmth of roasted almond and a hint of floral honey that evoke the comforting familiarity and subtle sweetness of home. The result is a rich, full-bodied cup that is bold enough to resonate at 30,000 feet yet smooth enough to appeal to a wide range of palates.
To ensure quality and consistency, each portion is packed in a biodegradable filter that allows the water to infuse evenly through the grounds, producing a clean, full-bodied cup every time.
“This strategic collaboration with Cathay Pacific is a proud milestone for The Coffee Academïcs,” said Jennifer W.F. Liu, Founder of The Coffee Academïcs. “It allows us to bring the taste of Hong Kong to a global audience while sharing our passion for quality and innovation. For me, this partnership represents a moment to showcase our in-house capabilities and commitment to crafting exceptional coffee experiences, now available to travellers across the world.”
By bringing The Coffee Academïcs onboard, Cathay Pacific not only enhances its inflight dining offering but also supports local brands in reaching an international audience — a testament to the airline’s commitment to championing homegrown excellence on a global stage.