Saturn's rings did not appear with the planet. Astronomers believe they may have formed when a smaller celestial body ventured within the planet's Roche limit, where powerful tidal forces tore it apart and left behind the debris. With the passage of time, the scattered fragments settle into orbit, forming the luminous rings visible from Earth.
For Liu Zhanhong, better known on the barista competition stage as Andy Philein, the same celestial phenomenon became the inspiration for a cocktail.
"When you encounter something you truly love, you should move toward it, even if it means risking being shattered," he told judges during the 2026 World Coffee in Good Spirits Championship final.
The metaphor proved powerful.
On June 27 in Brussels, Belgium, Liu captured the world title with two drinks inspired by the cosmos, becoming the first competitor from the Chinese mainland to win the prestigious championship and marking a milestone for China's specialty coffee industry.
His victory was the culmination of more than a decade of reinvention — from navigating financial markets to learning about espresso behind a cafe counter, and ultimately standing atop one of the world's most demanding coffee competitions.
Inside his cups, coffee, spirits and astronomy converge into something more than beverages. They tell a story of courage, curiosity and the pursuit of purpose.
Scientific concepts
Liu's championship routine was built around two original creations: a signature cold cocktail called Saturn and an Irish coffee called Afterglow of the Cosmos.
Rather than relying solely on visual spectacle, Saturn transformed a scientific concept into a meditation on life.
"When we look up at a star," Liu told the judges, "what we're actually seeing is light that left years ago."
That reflection soon found its way into the cup. Saturn featured a natural Geisha coffee originating from Panama. The lot, named Parabola, carries flavors of berries, mango and chocolate, while its name reflects life's inevitable highs and lows.
Liu paired it with sherry, Belgian Moon Gin, Pisco brandy and a lychee liqueur produced in his hometown of Guangzhou, Guangdong province, building layers of tropical fruit, floral aromas and elegant acidity.
The drink opened with bright tropical fruit and delicate floral notes before unfolding into a richer, spirit-forward finish, with the lychee adding a subtle sweetness that tied the flavors together.
The inclusion of the Guangdong-made lychee spirit was a deliberate nod to his roots.
"Coffee and spirits both begin as agricultural products," Liu says. "Only by understanding each ingredient can you allow them to complement one another."
If Saturn explored the courage to pursue a dream, Afterglow of the Cosmos shifted the focus back to Earth — and home.
The warm Irish coffee drew inspiration from Pale Blue Dot, the iconic 1990 photograph taken by NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft, which shows Earth as a tiny blue speck suspended in darkness.
"We're incredibly small in the universe," Liu says. "But we're here, and what we experience is real."
He translated that idea into an Irish coffee, a drink in which rich coffee aroma, mellow whisky and lingering sweetness created a gradual sense of warmth — what he described as a journey from the coldness of space back to the comfort of home.
"No matter how far you travel," he says, "you should never forget where you began".
