2017-11-27T12:54:06+00:00

Norway
Simo Christidi
Solberg & Hansen

Please tell us a little bit about yourself:

I am 42 yrs old, married and, father of 2 beautiful kids. I have been in the coffee industry since 2004. All those years I have been working for Solberg & Hansen in Oslo. I am the head roaster and I am still learning.

How eid you get started in coffee?

I graduated as an automation engineer just in case you have any technical issues. Coffee appeared in my life quite unexpectingly but since then, those beautiful small beans have changed my life.

Please list the coffee competitions you have participated in, what year they took place, and your results:

2012 World Coffee Roasting Challenge (først ever) – 1st Place 🙂

2005 & 2017 Norwegian Coffee Tasting Championship – 2nd Place

2017 Norwegian Coffee Roasting Championship – 1st Place

Nordic Roaster Championships (Team Solberg & Hansen)

What roaster do you currently roast on?

Probat G120, Probat Neptune 500, Loring Smart Roast Kestrel S35

How did you learn how to roast coffee?

I learned from the best school there is: Solberg & Hansen

What are your interests outside of coffee?

Basketball and football are my weekly activities, and I love the systems they use in basketball.  Beside that, I love to spend time with my family in Greece and I travel there as often as possible.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 

Much wiser, older, and definitely working with coffee.

Is there anyone you would like to thank or recognise, or who helped you to prepare for the WCRC?

First of all my company, Solberg & Hansen, and all those incredible people that work with me daily, and all those who I’ve worked with in the past.

What are you excited to do while you are in Guangzhou?

I am looking forward to visit China because I love this country. But for the moment I am focused on winning this competition.

Facebook: simo.christidi

Instagram: simo_christidi

2017-11-27T12:54:53+00:00

United Kingdom
Matthew Robley-Siemonsma
Prufrock Coffee

Please tell us a little bit about yourself:

I am a new father. I love great coffee, coffee roasting, coffee people, coffee business, product design, art.

How did you get started in coffee?

It’s a long story like everyone’s!  In 2007 during the last year of my art degree I was just starting to learn how to make decent filter coffee at home.  I think it was in that same year that I first had a really really good coffee.  It was a Kenyan brewed with a Chemex at Sightglass Coffee when they were just a kiosk starting in San Francisco.  It really tasted like strawberries!  In 2009 I moved to the UK and since then I’ve taken part and learned a lot during this exciting era for coffee in London.  I became a naturalised British Citizen in 2015 and I’m now the General Manager at Prufrock Coffee!

Please list the coffee competitions you have participated in, what year they took place, and your results:

2017 UK Roasting Championship – 1st Place

2016 World Coffee Roasting Championship – 3rd Place

2016 UK Roasting Championship – 1st Place

What roaster do you currently roast on?

IKAWA Pro, 2kg Probat, 1kg Diedrich

How did you learn how to roast coffee?

We learn best when we work together and collaborate as a community!

What are your interests outside of coffee?

Drawing, designing and making things, listening to records and podcasts.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 

On a beach somewhere with good coffee:)

Is there anyone you would like to thank or recognise, or who helped you to prepare for the WCRC?

I’d really like to thank my partner Beth and everyone at Prufrock for supporting me.

What are you excited to do while you are in Guangzhou?

Eat the amazing food!

Facebook: Prufrockcoffee

Twitter: flyinglumber

Instagram: flyinglumberyard

2017-11-27T12:56:24+00:00

Ukraine
Yuliia Saichuk
Svit Kavy

How did you get started in coffee?

This is a fun story. While studying at the university I decided to work during the summer holidays. It was a waiter job in a coffee shop, I liked it and I stayed to work further … until today. After a waiter I became a barista, I was very pleased to work with guests, discussing their coffee preferences.  I discovered coffee from the other side, it was the basis for development and experiments. Then there were championships, new impressions and I clearly understood that I wanted to know absolutely everything about coffee from the plantation and ending with an ideal cup. And at the moment when I was not getting enough preparation, I started taking a roast coffee. And now I am quite happy with what I do. I will give the guests of our coffee shop pleasures in the form of their perfect cup of coffee.

Please list the coffee competitions you have participated in, what year they took place, and your results:

Ukrainian Barista Championship 2011 – 3rd Place

Ukrainian Barista Championship 2013 – 5th Place

Cezve/Ibrik Championship Rimini 2014 – 8th Place

Cezve/Ibrik Championship Athens 2015 – 5th Place

What roaster do you currently roast on?

Giesen W15, Giesen W6A and Giesen W1A.

 

What are your interests outside of coffee?

I often travel, I like to learn something new for myself. In travel, you discover not only new places, people and their traditions .. you discover yourself, and this is the greatest pleasure. I adore cooking— creating new tastes experimenting with a combination of products. I like to be alone with myself, because of this, yoga is an integral part of my life. I like to know my body, artistic gymnastics helps me to do it. I am always in motion … because this movement is life.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 

I want to study coffee completely. I have experience in preparing and roasting coffee. And I clearly know that the next step is to study the processing of coffee beans. That’s why this winter I will not go skiing, I will go to Ethiopia to experience coffee from it’s first steps.

 

2017-11-27T12:57:07+00:00

United States
Mark Michaelson
Onyx Coffee Lab

Please tell us a little bit about yourself:

I enjoy roasting, my family, and watching comedies.

How did you get started in coffee?

I started in coffee as a second career, while using a local coffee shop as my second office. While there, I fell in love with all aspects of coffee and pursued the owner to give me a job.

Please list the coffee competitions you have participated in, what year they took place, and your results:

I have only personally competed in two competitions, which was this year (2017). The first regional competition I placed 5th. The second competition, which was nationals, I placed first.

What roaster do you currently roast on?

IR12, IR40, and a two barrel Primo Sample Roaster

How did you learn how to roast coffee?

By taking classes, experimenting, and learning to cup correctly.

What are your interests outside of coffee?

My family. I have three boys and a wife of almost ten years. Besides that I like comedies, stand up, and podcasts.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 

Continuing to learn my craft and get better than I currently am.

Is there anyone you would like to thank or recognise, or who helped you to prepare for the WCRC?

Jon and Andrea Allen who are the owners of Onyx Coffee Lab. Without their help and support, I would not be where I am today.

What are you excited to do while you are in Guangzhou?

Getting to experience the culture, learning from my fellow competitors, and eating awesome food.

Facebook: mark.michaelson1

Twitter: markitats1981

Instagram: mark_michaelson

2017-11-27T12:57:29+00:00

Turkey
Serkan Sagsoz
Roast and Found Co.

Please tell us a little bit about yourself:

I am 31 years old, married, and I have 1 child. I live in Izmir, Turkey. I finished university and graduated from both Foreign Trade and Business Administration.

How did you get started in coffee?

A friend of mine wanted me to try a cold brew of a coffee shop in Istanbul. After I tasted it and saw some more coffee shops, I said myself ; “this is great but I can do it much better.” So, I started to roast coffee in a room in my house. That’s how I started roasting in 2015.

Please list the coffee competitions you have participated in, what year they took place, and your results:

2017  Turkish National Coffee Roasting Championship – 1st Place

What roaster do you currently roast on?

Toper Cafemino – 1 kg

Garanti – 5 kg (fully customized)

How did you learn how to roast coffee?

On my own and from books I’ve read.

What are your interests outside of coffee?

Sports, and travelling.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 

I see myself being at the top of my game in the coffee community.

Is there anyone you would like to thank or recognise, or who helped you to prepare for the WCRC?

I would like to thank to my wife, Melek Sagsoz, and my best friends, Mustafa Okur, and Anil Gunaydin.

What are you excited to do while you are in Guangzhou?

Meeting with the best roasters in the world will be really great.

Facebook: serkan.sagsoz

Twitter: mlkkntsrknsgsz

Instagram: serkan.sagsoz

2017-11-27T12:57:55+00:00

Taiwan
Ming Hsuan Hua
Reba Coffee

Please tell us a little bit about yourself:

I started to work in a bank and later changed to the coffee industry. I currently operate a coffee shop in Tainan and I also have an e-commerce bean business.

How did you get started in coffee?

When I was in high school I started brewing and roasting coffee beans. So far, it’s been 20 years.

Please list the coffee competitions you have participated in, what year they took place, and your results:

2014 Taiwan International Specialty Coffee Association Excellent Roaster

2015 Toper Roast Master Champion

2017 Taiwan Coffee Roasting Champion

What roaster do you currently roast on?

Woots 3.0

How did you learn how to roast coffee?

I am learning to roast coffee myself, and I also discuss with my friends.

What are your interests outside of coffee?

WingChun martial arts. I studied wingchun kung fu for eight years.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 

I hope to be able to build an international coffee brand and coffee training center.

Is there anyone you would like to thank or recognise, or who helped you to prepare for the WCRC?

I would like to thank my family, my mother, my sisters, and my wife, thank them for their inclusiveness and help me to finish the competition.

What are you excited to do while you are in Guangzhou?

I will visit IP MAN memorial in Foshan.

Facebook: cafeleader.cafeleader

Instagram: rebacafe

2017-11-27T12:58:34+00:00

Sweden
Henrik Arvidsson
Blekinge Kafferosteri

Please tell us a little bit about yourself:

I started roasting coffee 8 years ago, as a coffee lover working for a company which started in 2012.  From the very start the aim has been to learn as much as possible about coffee and to make the best coffee. Through the years I’ve been roasting, reading, taking courses and letting the company grow slowly. This year I decided to apply for the national competition for the first time.

How did you get started in coffee?

I really started out with nothing but a true passion for coffee. I started my own coffee roastery in 2012 with a great passion for coffee and a firm strive for more knowledge to make better and better coffee.

Please list the coffee competitions you have participated in, what year they took place, and your results:

Swedish Coffee Roasting Championship 2017 – Winner

What roaster do you currently roast on?

Giesen W6a

How did you learn how to roast coffee?

Reading books, taking courses and a lot of practice.

What are your interests outside of coffee?

Music, friends, running and reading.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 

Working with coffee and running my company.

Is there anyone you would like to thank or recognise, or who helped you to prepare for the WCRC?

Måns Akne Andersson for the training. Morten Münchow for the roasting. Ida Steen for sensory training  Thanks a million to my wife, Valeria, and my two kids, Nicole and Theo, who have supported me through this journey.

What are you excited to do while you are in Guangzhou?

Going up the Canton Tower.

Facebook: blekingekafferosteri.se

Twiter: KaffeHenke

Instagram: blekingekafferosteri

2017-11-27T12:59:51+00:00

Spain
Joaquín Parra
Right Side Coffee

Please tell us a little bit about yourself:

I live in a town close to Barcelona and travel around the world sourcing unique coffee and enjoying what I do. I like to play football and listen music. Friends and family are my energy and my wonderful Lara which is joining me in this adventure which is life.

How did you get started in coffee?

A long time ago… I cannot say a date because I grew up in touch with coffee, as my family business is a green coffee importer.

Please list the coffee competitions you have participated in, what year they took place, and your results:

Spanish Roaster Championship 2013 – Winner

World Roaster Championship 2013 – 6th Place

What roaster do you currently roast on?

L12, Probat. Updated to the modern times and needs by myself.

How did you learn how to roast coffee?

In a BR-3 sample roaster. Probat too.

What are your interests outside of coffee?

Music, books, movies, football, food, cooking, wine, beer…

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 

Good question. Barcelona is a cool city and the coffee scene is growing year by year. As a pioneer in my country I would like to have a really strong coffee market and hope more people will be focused on quality.

Is there anyone you would like to thank or recognise, or who helped you to prepare for the WCRC?

Family, friends, collegues and Lara who has supported me unconditionally.

What are you excited to do while you are in Guangzhou?

Eat dumplings, enjoy the competition, and have everything under control. It is always a challenge.

Facebook: rightsidecoffee

Twiter: rightsidecoffee

Instagram: rightsidecoffee

2017-11-27T13:00:18+00:00

South Korea
Joo Sunghyun
180COFFEEROASTERS

Please tell us a little bit about yourself:

I’m headroaster in 180coffeeroasters.  The only company in Korea with two roasting champions. My coach Seungjin Lee was 2013 champion, and I placed 2017.

How did you get started in coffee?

In 2006 I started with a part time job in small cafe, which lead to a strong interest in coffee.

Please list the coffee competitions you have participated in, what year they took place, and your results:

2015 Korean Good Spirts Championship – 5th Place.

2017 Korean Coffee Roasting Championship – 1st Place

What roaster do you currently roast on?

I use 6 roasters theses days; Giesen W30, Giesen W1, Easyster 1.8, Easyster 7, and a Stronghold S7.

How did you learn how to roast coffee?

I met a good roaster, and today he is my coach. He has taught me a lot of things about roasting.

What are your interests outside of coffee?

When I’ve got a day off I like to play PES2018 (Soccer Game).

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 

Maybe I’ll still be working for 180coffeeroasters.

Is there anyone you would like to thank or recognise, or who helped you to prepare for the WCRC?

First my wife Eunsaem. She’s always by my side—she is my anchorwoman.  Secondly my coach, Seungjin Lee, who has taught me the ways of a roasting champion.

What are you excited to do while you are in Guangzhou?

To compete in the roasting championship.

Facebook: sunghyun.joo

Instagram: sunghyun35

2017-11-27T13:01:26+00:00

Russia
Denis Sigulin
Coffee Owl Roastsers

Please tell us a little bit about yourself:

I’m 27 years old, I joined the world of coffee in 2011, when started work for KLD Coffee Importers—the biggest supplier of green coffee in Russia. 3.5 years later I left the green company and decided that roasted coffee is what I’m more interested in. Since then I’ve developed my sensory and barista skills. Roasting was on the dark side for me, and too complicated, until last year when I became head of quality control in Coffee Owl Roasters. It was necessary to understand at least the basics in order to control the final product. So I passed basic and intermediate SCAE Roasting course, and that was the beginning.

How did you get started in coffee?

Like most of us who got started, I worked in restaurant, where I met CEO of KLD Coffee Importers – Andrey Elson. At the time I didn’t know who we was, just another guest. We talked about coffee and coffee machines, and after 2 hours of conversation he invited me to have a look at what’s going on in their lab.

Please list the coffee competitions you have participated in, what year they took place, and your results:

Almost all Cup Teating Championships since 2012 excluding 2014, when we organized it.  But I usually placed somewhere in between 4th and 8th in the final.  Coffee Roasting Championship 2017, 1st place.

What roaster do you currently roast on?

Variety of Probat: 5, 12, and 25kg.

How did you learn how to roast coffee?

I analysed the experience that founder of Coffee Owl Roasters, Oleg Kondaurov provided me. I also passed the SCAE roasting course, read Scott Rao and other opinions and approaches, and talked with some good roasters. From there, I started to practice.

What are your interests outside of coffee?

My main interest is my my family—I became a father in June of this year.  I also do sport.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 

As I understand from my experience, 5 years is too huge a period of time for planning. But I love what I do, I’d like to continue my growth in coffee sourcing for our company. It’s one of the most interesting parts of my work.

Is there anyone you would like to thank or recognise, or who helped you to prepare for the WCRC?

Yes, for sure! I’d like to thank Oleg Kondaurov, who showed me what roasting actually is, who helped me stay open-minded and inspired.  Also I’d like to thank my wife. She believes in me, and supports me when no-one else would. I like to thank everyone else who has helped me along the way.

What are you excited to do while you are in Guangzhou?

To participate in this wonderful championship.

Facebook: denis.sigulin

Instagram: sigulek