Cathay Pacific has partnered with The Coffee Academïcs, delivering a bespoke “Cathay Blend” to Economy and Premium Economy cabins across all routes.
The Cathay Blend features a darker French roast profile, meaning the coffee beans are roasted until they are dark brown, offering a bold and intense flavor.
The blend combines beans from Vietnam and Brazil, delivering notes of dark cocoa, roasted almond, and floral honey.
This blend is developed specifically to perform at altitude, where taste perception is naturally dulled.
Coffee is brewed onboard using drip machines specially designed for aviation use, having passed all required safety regulations.
This ensures a consistently high-quality cup at altitude. Each portion is packed in a biodegradable filter designed to allow even water infusion through the grounds.
The rollout began approximately one month ago with a soft launch, during which the coffee was gradually introduced across all routes in the Cathay Pacific network.
The Coffee Academïcs branding is featured in Cathay Pacific’s inflight menu, highlighting the partnership.
Beyond the inflight service, passengers can purchase a Cathay x The Coffee Academïcs coffee kit through the Cathay Shop.
The blend was created through multiple tasting sessions between The Coffee Academïcs and Cathay Pacific teams, using the same brewing equipment found onboard.
The process involved reviewing passenger preferences and addressing the challenge of serving coffee at altitude, where both taste buds and sense of smell are dulled.
The teams experimented with various roast levels and brewing methods before settling on the final French roast profile, calibrated to maximize aroma while maintaining flavor balance.
“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.”
Founded in 2012, The Coffee Academïcs operates a 930-square-metre roastery in Hong Kong and runs a network of 40 coffee shops across Hong Kong and Southeast Asia.
The company roasts 100% of its beans locally in Hong Kong. All products are SGS certified to meet safety standards and ensure they are free from harmful or carcinogenic substances.
Images courtesy of Cathay Pacific & Coffee Academïcs
Nik founded Inflight Feed in 2012, blending his passion for inflight dining with over a decade of experience in the airline industry. For the past 13 years, he has travelled the world, exploring and reviewing airline meals across countless carriers.
CNN Travel, The New York Times, and BBC World News have featured Nik’s expertise. When he’s not on the ground, you’ll find him at 35,000 feet, camera in hand, capturing the unique flavours of air travel. Follow his inflight meal adventures on Instagram: @InflightFeed.