Jiangsu's hearing-impaired baristas brew a new future

China Daily

19th November 2025

Jiangsu's hearing-impaired baristas brew a new future

By Li Lei

In a government service hall in Huai'an in China's Jiangsu province a quiet revolution is brewing.

Amid the usual bureaucratic hum, a different sound fills the air: the gentle whir of coffee grinders and the soft hiss of steam.

This is the "Silent Coffee" shop, a pioneering project where baristas communicate through warm smiles and sign language. It's more than just a cafe, it's a beacon of opportunity for the city's deaf and hearing-impaired community, creating career paths that bolster their public visibility.

The model is designed for seamless interaction. Customers order via a QR code and specify their preferences on a voice-recognition tablet.

https://global.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202511/19/