"Has the coffee taste changed?"
From a coffee buyer's perspective, they can only be perplexed by coffee with different tastes each year due to production issues or poor crop yields at their suppliers. A startup in Busan has provided an answer using blockchain technology. The 'Busan-style Coffee Certification System', which allows consumers to check coffee's taste, aroma, and origin information with a single QR code, is gaining attention.
On the afternoon of the 23rd, at the BPN Solution office, a coffee logistics startup located on the 21st floor of the Busan International Finance Center (BIFC). Instead of coffee aroma, the space was filled with digital equipment. When an employee scanned a QR code in front of a kiosk and PDA, the origin, taste characteristics, and import declaration details of the coffee were displayed on one screen. Kim Yong-gil, research director at BPN Solution, said, "The moment you scan the QR code, all the history of when and where the coffee was produced and how it was processed appears" - "This is the advantage of blockchain technology."
BPN Solution has been involved in blockchain-based logistics since 2019. They register 'Non-Fungible Token (NFT) coffee' by matching coffee import declarations with actual coffee beans on the blockchain and record the history at each logistics stage. 300 types of information that determine coffee quality and taste are stored in a digital 'coffee key'. The director said they plan to expand the coffee varieties to 1,000 by the end of this year.
This system goes beyond simply storing logistics information, incorporating scientific information such as chemical composition analysis, roasting temperature, and variety characteristics that influence coffee taste. Artificial Intelligence recommends roasting profiles based on this data. The customer base includes coffee importers, roastery operators, coffee shops, and brands.
One coffee brand reportedly used this system to find an alternative coffee with a similar flavor when their existing coffee was sold out. The director emphasized, "When supply is cut off due to climate change or pests, we need to quickly find alternative farms" - "Our established database shines in such moments."
BPN Solution is working to register a 'cupping app' for evaluating coffee taste as the official app of the Specialty Coffee Association (SCA). The app will be launched as a subscription-based paid service. They are also pursuing an AI coffee recommendation service and an online coffee auction platform. In April, the first Asian auction of Costa Rican specialty coffee will be held, and interest is being shown in Japan, Taiwan, and China.
Meanwhile, Busan Technopark is promoting a Busan-style coffee certification system based on this technology. The goal is to track coffee distribution history through blockchain and allow consumers to directly verify it. BPN Solution is participating as the key technology company for this certification system.
