Romania Bogdan Georgescu Sloane Coffee Please tell us a little about yourself:  I'm an IT guy with lots of passion for coffee. I started in specialty coffee no more than 5 years ago, as a home barista and roaster. Soon enough after discovering specialty coffee I started working on a full-scale roaster, and managed to do something interesting in the Romanian coffee industry. All this while still working in IT. Please list the coffee competitions you have participated in, what year they took place, and your results: Romanian Coffee Roasting Competition 2017 - 4th Place Romanian Aeropress Championship 2019 - not sure what place Romanian Comandante Cup 2019 - not sure what place Romanian Coffee Roasting Competition 2019 - 1st Place What are you excited to do while you are in Taipei?: I'm most excited about meeting coffee people from around the world and gaining more experience in roasting. Also [...]

United Kingdom Diana Johnston DRWakefield Please tell us a little about yourself:  Coffee came early in my life, because I grew up visiting my grandfather who was working on the coffee farms in Mexico. I can still remember that specific aroma that used to drift into my room in the early morning—coffee being freshly roasted on the stove top. My grandmother or grandfather would wake up early in the morning and roast some coffee with cinnamon on the stove, and then grind and brew it. I used to enjoy a little bit with milk, pretending to be an adult like the rest of my family, as you do when you are small. In those moments I never imagined that coffee would become such a part of my life. But as I grew older I become fascinated with not just the cultural and ceremonial aspect of coffee, but also the scientific [...]

Poland Mateusz Karczewski Audun Coffee - Norwegian Roast Please tell us a little about yourself:  I am watching skateboard videos while writing this 🙂 I love life — travelling, animals, people, food, art etc. When I was a kid I was dreaming about my own bar, and now I am a coffee roaster. Living my dream, with my family 🙂 What are you excited to do while you are in Taipei?: I'm looking forward to trying local cuisine, meeting new people, and chatting with them. Which coffee-producing country most interests or excites you?: Rwanda. What are your interests outside of coffee?: Music, cuisine, travels. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?: I see myself having my own restaurant ;D Is there anyone you would like to thank or recognize, or who helped you to prepare for the competition?: My family. -- Instagram

Korea Donghan Hwang Caffe Museo Please tell us a little about yourself:  I have been roasting coffee for 6 years, since I was 28, although my major in university was mathematics. Now I’m working in Caffe Museo as a roaster, being very excited about seeing many kinds of excellent and trendy coffees. I dream of a world where high-quality coffees are popularized by connecting with various people. Please list the coffee competitions you have participated in, what year they took place, and your results: 2018 KCRC - 7th Place 2019 KCRC - 1st Place What are you excited to do while you are in Taipei?: I'm excited about meeting other passionate international rosters, and looking forward to enjoying good coffee in Taipei. Which coffee-producing country most interests or excites you?: Any place that produce beans of a good grade makes me excited, regardless of nations. What are your interests outside [...]

Greece Alexandros Ferras Kudu Coffee Please tell us a little about yourself:  I started 7 years ago as a barista. After 4 years as coffee shop supervisor, duty manager, and head barista, I finally became the head roaster of Kudu Coffee Roasters. Through learning so many things every day, I realised how much of this job I like! Last year my coach and our head roaster helped me to get to 4th place,  but it wasn't enough for me. This year I competed again and won. When I'm not cupping or roasting I like playing football and foot volley! Please list the coffee competitions you have participated in, what year they took place, and your results: Greek Roasting Championhip 2018 (4th place) Greek Roasting championship 2019 (1st place) Greek Latte Art Championship 2018 (6th place) Greek Latte Art Championship 2017 (3rd place) What are you excited to do while you [...]

Austria Felix Teiretzbacher Felix Kaffee Please tell us a little about yourself:  My name is Felix and I started working with coffee back in 2003, when I worked for a espresso machine local supplier. In 2008, I opened a small coffee shop and four years later I founded my own roastery. I sold the coffee shop 2 years ago to focus on the roastery. I really enjoy what I do! Please list the coffee competitions you have participated in, what year they took place, and your results: Austrian Coffee Roasting Competition 2019, 1st Place What are you excited to do while you are in Taipei?: I'm curious to see the city and its specialty coffee scene. And I'd love to go for a run. Which coffee-producing country most interests or excites you?: After years of roasting I'm still learning about origins so its hard to say. I've been to Ethiopia [...]

Brazil Jonathan Piazarolo Trentino Cafés Especiais Please tell us a little about yourself:  My coffee story begins in 1994 as a producer in Santa Teresa, ES (72 km from Vitória) and expanded to include roasting for small regional markets in 1999. My first course was in 2001, improving upon all the work I had done until then, and reaching the specialty coffee market in 2004. This entire history elapsed on the farm, until in 2009 we opened the first coffee shop in downtown Santa Teresa. We added a micro-roastery in 2011 and began the Trentino Cafés Especiais brand. In January of 2018, we moved the operation to Vitória. Please list the coffee competitions you have participated in, what year they took place, and your results: 2018 Brazilian Coffee Roasting Championship, 9th place What are you excited to do while you are in Taipei?: Train, cup, and use my free time [...]

Taiwan Jason Hua (Hua Ming Hsuan) Reba Coffee Please tell us a little about yourself:  I am Jason Hua, I have been running RebA CoffeE since 2017, and my coffee shop RebA CoffeE RoAst DojO is also located in Tainan city, Taiwan. I started my coffee journey at around 17 years old, and have been dedicated to roasting coffee beans for more than 20 years. I welcome you all in visiting Taiwan, I hope you have a nice cup of coffee here. Please list the coffee competitions you have participated in, what year they took place, and your results: 2019 WCRC Taiwan Champion 2017 WCRC Taiwan Champion 2015 Toper Roast Master Taiwan Champion What are you excited to do while you are in Taipei?: I plan on visiting my friend’s coffee shop in Taipei, and trying to find some famous local vegetarian restaurants. (I am a vegetarian). Which coffee-producing country [...]

Russia Arseny Kuznetsov Traveler's Coffee Please tell us a little about yourself:  I am a professional coffee roaster from Siberia, where people take their coffee very seriously. Please list the coffee competitions you have participated in, what year they took place, and your results: I have participated in different Russian coffee competitions (cup tasting, barista, and roasting). I have won some top places but this is my first time at the World Coffee Roasting Championship. What are you excited to do while you are in Taipei?: I'm looking forward to seeing Taipei's best coffeeshops and I'm also expecting a lot from the coffee exhibition. Which coffee-producing country most interests or excites you?: I am mostly inspired by Ethiopia. I believe that Ethiopian coffee has unlimited potential. What are your interests outside of coffee?: Music, food, and extreme sports. Is there anyone you would like to thank or recognize, or who [...]

Germany Benjamin Pozsgai Benson Coffee Please tell us a little about yourself:  My Name is Benjamin. My nickname is Benson, so the idea came up to name my coffee brand like that. I've been roasting coffee for a living for 7 years now, and it feels like the journey has just started. Please list the coffee competitions you have participated in, what year they took place, and your results: German Roasting Championship 2015 - 3rd German Roasting Championship 2016 - 1st World Coffee Roasting Championship 2018 - 3rd German Roasting Championship 2019 - 1st What are you excited to do while you are in Taipei?: I met so many awesome and beautiful people from Taiwan volunteering at the 2018 WCRC in Guangzhou while I was competing. I am just as excited to get to know Taiwan better, the food, the people, the culture, the landscape etc. Which coffee-producing country most [...]

United States Shelby Williamson Huckleberry Roasters Please tell us a little about yourself:  I started roasting coffee about 5 years ago and haven't looked back. I started my career with a general interest in coffee and fell head-first into that rabbit hole. I am lucky to roast for the lovely Huckleberry Roasters in Denver, CO where I have been encouraged and supported to challenge myself and gain as much knowledge in my field as I can. When I am not roasting and slurping, I can be found on a trail somewhere in the Rockies, at a yoga class or on my couch with a good book. Please list the coffee competitions you have participated in, what year they took place, and your results: 2018 Roasting Rodeo - 1st 2018 USRC Qualifier (Denver) - 2nd 2019 USRC (Kansas City) - 1st What are you excited to do while you are in [...]

Ukraine Oleksii Konovalov Ukrcoffee Please tell us a little about yourself:  I have been working in the coffee industry since 2012, and started roasting coffee in 2015. Please list the coffee competitions you have participated in, what year they took place, and your results: 2018 Ukrainian Coffee Roasting Championship - 14th Place 2019 Ukrainian Coffee Roasting Championship - 1st Place  

Turkey Warrick Masfen Kungpow Coffee Please tell us a little about yourself:  I am a 30 year old coffee roaster from South Africa, living in Turkey. I started my coffee roasting career 6 years ago in South Africa. I moved to Istanbul in September 2015 as I was given the opportunity to follow my passion of coffee roasting and travelling. At the end of 2018 I started my own coffee roasting company in Turkey called Kungpow Coffee. Please list the coffee competitions you have participated in, what year they took place, and your results: 2019 SCA Turkey Roasting Championship - 1st Place Which coffee-producing country most interests or excites you?: That is hard to answer as there are so many different countries that are interesting for different reasons. What are your interests outside of coffee?: Music production, cooking, and programming neural networks. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?: [...]

Thailand Fuu Panratee Maled Coffee Roasters Please tell us a little about yourself:  I opened a coffee shop,  roasting coffee in Chiang Mai, in Thailand. Please list the coffee competitions you have participated in, what year they took place, and your results: 2019 Thailand National Coffee Roasting Champion What are you excited to do while you are in Taipei?: I have never been to Taipei so I am very excited. I want to go to see the coffee culture and the people there. And it's the first time  to host a global competition, I'm very excited about it. Which coffee-producing country most interests or excites you?: Thailand. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?: I think I'm still working on the coffee. But I will definitely develop myself more than now. Is there anyone you would like to thank or recognize, or who helped you to prepare for the [...]

Sweden Anthony Huy Nguyen The Coffee Connections Please tell us a little about yourself:  I'm a coffee manager at Alkemisten, roaster/ partner in Coffea Circulor, and the founder of The Coffee Connections. My core business is to serve specialty coffee in daily life and share the stories behind the cup. I’ve worked in the coffee industry for 11 years now and I'm always looking forward to learning more about coffee and people in my life. My main goal is to find the true meaning of life through coffee. Please list the coffee competitions you have participated in, what year they took place, and your results: Winner - Swedish Coffee Roasting Champion 2019 6th Place - Swedish Coffee Roasting Championship 2015 5th Place - Swedish Coffee Roasting Championship 2017 What are you excited to do while you are in Taipei?: Meeting coffee people and visiting all the specialty cafés in Taipei. [...]

Norway Simo Christidi Solberg & Hansen Please tell us a little about yourself:  I am the head roaster in Solberg & Hansen based in Oslo, Norway. I have held this position since 2009 but I have been roasting since 2004. I am the current Norwegian champion, a title I have held since 2017. Please list the coffee competitions you have participated in, what year they took place, and your results: 2012 WCR Challenge in Vienna - 1st Place 2017 WCRC in Guangzhou - 8th Place 2018 WCRC in Rimini - 6th Place Nordic Roaster competitions National cupping competitions What are you excited to do while you are in Taipei?: I am looking forward to meet a bunch of good friends from Taiwan, enjoy being there and hopefully do a good presentation during the championship. Which coffee-producing country most interests or excites you?: Taste-wise there is nothing out there that can [...]

Mexico Eduardo Juárez Sonata Coffee Roasters Please tell us a little about yourself:  I am passionate about coffee and the methods of roasting it. I enjoy everyday at work because everyday is a new learning experience. What are you excited to do while you are in Taipei?: Meet my fellow roasters and visit specialty coffee shops, because Taiwan is way ahead in specialty coffee. -- Instagram

Japan Koji Ida Rokumei Coffee Co. Please tell us a little about yourself:  I'm CEO and head roaster of Rokumei Coffee Co. The shop is located in Nara, Japan. My coffee roasting career started in 2010. I'm a judge in the Japan Barista Championship and Japan Brewers Cup. Please list the coffee competitions you have participated in, what year they took place, and your results: 2013 Japan Coffee Roasting Championship - 6th Place 2016 Japan Coffee Roasting Championship - 3rd Place 2018 Japan Coffee Roasting Championship - 1st Place What are you excited to do while you are in Taipei?: I'm looking forward to enjoying some delicious Taiwanese cuisine. Which coffee-producing country most interests or excites you?: El Salvador. What are your interests outside of coffee?: Agriculture. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?: In the area of coffee production. Is there anyone you would like to thank or recognize, or [...]

Italy Michele Anedotti Caffe Corsini / Ditta Artigianale Please tell us a little about yourself:  I started working at Caffe Corsini in 1996. I joined the quality control team in 2004, and in 2013 I started focusing on roasting. Please list the coffee competitions you have participated in, what year they took place, and your results: 2011 WCTC in Maastricht I placed in mid ranking. What are you excited to do while you are in Taipei?: Visit the city. Which coffee-producing country most interests or excites you?: Ecuador. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?: Managing a roasting machine.

France Connor Bramley Mana Coffee Please tell us a little about yourself:  I originally studied mathematics in Scotland and fell in love with coffee whilst finishing my degree. I got a job as a barista, which led me over the following 8 years to become bar manager, café manager, trainer, quality controller, assistant roaster, and eventually head roaster! Aside from coffee, I have a strong love of anything that tastes good, especially if it's fermented. Please list the coffee competitions you have participated in, what year they took place, and your results: WBC: United Kingdom 2013 - Disqualified United Kingdom 2014 - Disqualified France 2015 - 3rd place France 2016 - Disqualified WBrC: France 2015 - 4th place France 2016 - 1st place Dublin 2016 - 34th place France 2017 - 1st place Budapest 2017 - Disqualified WCRC: France 2017 - 2nd place France 2018 - 12th place France 2019 [...]

Denmark Rasmus Madsen April Coffee Roasters Please tell us a little about yourself:  I am a production employee at April Coffee Roasters, and have an Msc. in Agriculture. What are your interests outside of coffee?: Geology and Agriculture. -- Instagram

China ShengHao Chen The Few Coffee and Goods Please tell us a little about yourself:  My name is ShengHaoChen, and I'm from China. I'm a roaster at The Few Coffee. Please list the coffee competitions you have participated in, what year they took place, and your results: 2019 China Coffee Roasting Champion What are you excited to do while you are in Taipei? Taiwan is a very special place. I want to experience the coffee culture in Taiwan and eat some local food. Which coffee-producing country most interests or excites you?: Ethiopia and Costa Rica. What are your interests outside of coffee?: Gaming and basketball. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?: Actually, I don't know! But I will probably still be making coffee. Is there anyone you would like to thank or recognize, or who helped you to prepare for the competition?: I want to thank my coach, my colleagues, [...]

Australia Takumi Sakamoto Brut Coffee Please tell us a little about yourself:  I am the founder of Brut Coffee and head roaster of Deluca Coffee in Sydney, Australia. I have been making and roasting coffee for about 8 years. I fell in love with coffee culture when I moved to Sydney 12 years ago and haven't looked back since. I love seeing my customers smiling when they have a good coffee experience. Please list the coffee competitions you have participated in, what year they took place, and your results: 1st in Australian Roasting Championship 2019 What are you excited to do while you are in Taipei? Food!!! Which coffee-producing country most interests or excites you?: Colombia. I may be biased as I have visited Colombia twice, but I believe it is one of the most exciting coffee producing countries right now. The people are very passionate about coffee and are working [...]

Korea Taehwan Kwon Signature Roasters Please tell us a little about yourself:  I am Taehwan Kwon, I live in Korea and am responsible for roasting in Signature Roasters. How long have you been roasting for?: For about six months. What roaster do you currently roast on?: Giesen W1M, W6, W15 What is your coffee of choice: I like coffee with charming characters. How did you learn to roast? Did you have a coach or trainer: I learned from the owner of our company, Moonkyu Jang who was 2nd Place at the 2014 WCRC in Rimini. Who is your roasting hero?: The owner of our company, Moonkyu Jang. What is your favourite weather to roast in?: Thinking about the weather in Korea, it is better to have a hot and humid summer than a cold, dry winter. In fact, I have so little experience that I need to experience more in [...]

United States Ian Picco Topeca Coffee Roasters Please tell us a little about yourself:  I work as Director of Coffee for Topeca Coffee Roasters in Tulsa, Oklahoma. I've been in coffee since 2004, starting my journey as a barista. I am an SCA Authorized Trainer and teach at the Professional level in Roasting and Sensory Skills. Outside of work, I consider myself to be a culinary enthusiast continually learning new techniques in food and beverage, exploring new flavors, and discovering humanity through cuisine. How long have you been roasting for?: 9 years What roaster do you currently roast on?: Joper BPR25, Diedrich IR12, Proaster THCR1.5, Mill City 500g, San Franciscan SF1 What is your coffee of choice: Washed Sulawesi Typica How did you learn to roast? Did you have a coach or trainer: On the job training, SCAA education, and sharing knowledge and theory with fellow roasters. Who is your [...]