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Shanghaied: Hotelex in Pictures, Words, and Mostly Pictures
Chris
Apr 04, 2014
Team Slayer just returned from Hotelex – one of the world’s largest hospitality trade shows – and, shoot, we have stories to tell! The Great Firewall kept us quiet while on the inside but now, back in the States, we’re slaphappy to share what we saw. Here’s the best of our week in China.
Our weekend began at Jascaffe, one of China’s most prominent specialty coffee roasters, equipment suppliers, and training tanks. Jason, Dylan, and Chris lent hands at their stellar sales summit.
![In the showroom, Dylan mans one of Jascaffe's several Slayers. Dylan from Slayer at Jascaffe](http://72.10.52.170/~slayerespresso/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/dylan-slayer-jascaffe.jpg)
![Our Jason presents to employees of Jascaffe with translating help from his Taiwanese counterpart, Jason Wang. Jason and Slayer at Jascaffe](http://72.10.52.170/~slayerespresso/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/jason-slayer-jascaffe.jpg)
![Jascaffe's baristi: Slayer pros and, yes, we're proud. Jascaffe barista and Slayer](http://72.10.52.170/~slayerespresso/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/jascaffe-barista.jpg)
![Dylan shows off Slayer's steaming ability... and a little of his own. Slayer latte art](http://72.10.52.170/~slayerespresso/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/dylan-latte-art.jpg)
![Jascaffe's friendly nudge at Starbucks... their old machines converted to sinks. Starbucks Verismo sink](http://72.10.52.170/~slayerespresso/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/starbucks-sink.jpg)
On our day off, we tried a different kind of extraction: tea. The ritual of drinking – even cupping – tea fascinated us, so we each came back with a massive haul of oolong, pu-erh, and all the supplies we never knew we didn’t need.
![Jason from Jascaffe knows more than just coffee. We spent most mornings tasting teas in his 'office'. Tea ceremony with Jascaffe](http://72.10.52.170/~slayerespresso/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/tea-ceremony.jpg)
![Shanghai's tea market contains dozens (hundreds?) of shops dedicated to a single beverage with an ancient history: tea. Shanghai tea market](http://72.10.52.170/~slayerespresso/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/shanghai-tea-market.jpg)
At the show, Slayer camped out at two separate booths: Jascaffe and ManLao River, the Chinese distributor of Ninety Plus Coffee.
![Jason talks up his favorite espresso machine on the floor at Hotelex. Hotelex Shanghai Jascaffe booth](http://72.10.52.170/~slayerespresso/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/jason-at-hotelex.jpg)
![At Ninety Plus' booth, we slung some of the show's best coffees alongside our friends at Alpha Dominche. Slayer at Ninety Plus booth](http://72.10.52.170/~slayerespresso/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/ninety-plus-booth.jpg)
![We also had the chance to play a bit. Here, Birdie Chiu pairs the Slayer with his EK43 and checks results with a refractometer. Slayer with EK43 grinder and VST refractometer](http://72.10.52.170/~slayerespresso/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/slayer-ek43-vst.jpg)
Our evenings were a toss-up between events at local cafes and adventures in the city.
![Seesaw Cafe, home to a 2-group Slayer, invited Jason to share the Slayer story with its baristas and other local coffee-lovers. Slayer at Seesaw Cafe](http://72.10.52.170/~slayerespresso/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/slayer-event-at-seesaw.jpg)
![To celebrate a week of work and play at Hotelex, the Jascaffe team met at Staytion Coffee. Here, its owner picks Jason's brain. Slayer at Staytion Coffee](http://72.10.52.170/~slayerespresso/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/slayer-event-at-staytion.jpg)
![Looking across the river at Shanghai's Pudong district. Shanghai skyline](http://72.10.52.170/~slayerespresso/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/shanghai-skyline.jpg)
The people of Shanghai were, as they always have been, ridiculously kind to us. The baristas beamed with excitement, overflowed with curiosity. And our business partners at Jascaffe quickly became our friends. Needless to say, we won’t quickly pass the opportunity to return to Shanghai and Hotelex.
Neither should you.