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

Ming Hsuan Hua, Taiwan

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 [...]

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

Henrik Arvidsson, Sweden

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 - [...]

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

Joaquín Parra, Spain

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 [...]

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

Joo Sunghyun, South Korea

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 [...]

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

Denis Sigulin, Russia

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. [...]

2017-12-05T10:06:54+00:00

Katy Szasz, Romania

Romania Katy Szasz Independent Please tell us a little bit about yourself: My name is Katy, I discovered specialty coffee in late 2013, when I instantly fell in love with it and I knew that this is what I wanted to do. I have competed in many competitions, national and international. Now I'm a barista trainer in a chain of restaurants, that love specialty coffee just as I do. I also roast coffee for them.  I have also judged national Barista, Brewers, Cezve/Ibrik Championships, and the latest Cezve/Ibrik Championship.  Can't wait to see what happens next! How did you get started in coffee? I started 5 years ago. A poorly made cappuccino was the thing that lead me to barista school, where I learned a lot of new and interesting things about coffee—things that I have never had clue about. Then I decided to compete in order to get better, faster! Please list the coffee [...]

2017-11-27T13:02:44+00:00

Roberto Espinoza Ramírez, México

México Roberto Espinoza Ramírez Inka Yani Please tell us a little bit about yourself: My name is Roberto Espinoza. I'm 26 years old and I'm the Coffee Roasting Champion of México. I work at Inka Yani Tostadores de Café, a small coffee shop in México City. I enjoy roasting because you can always learn something new about coffee or the process while working. I like when people enjoy a cup of coffee that I roasted, it makes me really happy. How did you get started in coffee? I enjoyed my first cup of coffee with my mom when I was little. Since then we've been discovering coffee together. Please list the coffee competitions you have participated in, what year they took place, and your results: 2° Competencia Mexicana de Tostado 5° Lugar 3° Competencia Mexicana de Tostado 1° Lugar What roaster do you currently roast on? Solocafe 5kg Profesional How did [...]

2017-12-05T09:57:32+00:00

Hiraku Kondo, Japan

Japan Hiraku Kondo Ituka Coffee Please tell us a little bit about yourself: I work at Ituka Coffee in the Kanagawa Prefecture of Japan. I have a 5 year roasting career and my main machine is a Fuji Royal R-105, 5kg roaster. How did you get started in coffee? My first time to drink coffee was when I was 14 years old. After that, I gradually became more interested in coffee and roasting. Please list the coffee competitions you have participated in, what year they took place, and your results: May 2016: Japan Brewers Cup (JBrC), Preliminary Round July 2016: Japan Cup Tasters Championship (JCTC), Preliminary Round August 2016: Japan Coffee Roasting Championship (JCRC), 1st place May 2017: Japan Brewers Cup (JBrC), Semifinalists July 2017: Japan Cup Tasters Championship (JCTC), Preliminary Round What roaster do you currently roast on? I roast on a few different machines. Giesen: W6A Fuji Royal:R-105, Discovery Probat: Probatone5 Loring:S15 Diedrich:Ir-2.5 How did [...]

2017-11-27T13:04:10+00:00

Weiwei Ye, China

China Weiwei Ye Independent Please tell us a little bit about yourself: I am a coffee roaster from Nanjing, China. I opened my first coffee shop 9 years ago, and I started roasting about 2 years ago. I am also a crazy trail runner, cycling enthusiast, and an outdoor sports lover. Please list the coffee competitions you have participated in, what year they took place, and your results: 2017 China Coffee Roasting Championship – 1st Place What roaster do you currently roast on? Giesen What are your interests outside of coffee? Going to places I’ve never been before and experiencing different cultures. Is there anyone you would like to thank or recognise, or who helped you to prepare for the WCRC? So many people! My wife, my friends, my coach, teachers, and so on. What are you excited to do while you are in Guangzhou? I had been to Guangzhou several times, [...]

2017-11-27T13:05:07+00:00

Panagiotis Matziounis, Greece

Greece Panagiotis Matziounis Roasters Kolektiva Please tell us a little bit about yourself: Owner of Matziounis Coffee Roasting business est.1954, creator of the Roasters Kolektiva project, coffee lover and proud father of two. Coffee roasting for me is an artistic expression, and an activity that fascinates me more and more as I get deeper into the philosophy of coffee. Winning the 1st Hellenic Coffee Roasting Championship has been a dream come true, but also has rewarded the work of three generations, and our everyday effort to provide coffee of excellent quality. I feel honoured to represent Greece in this worldwide competition and wish the best to all of us. How did you get started in coffee? I became engaged in coffee from a young age, since my family owned a coffee roasting business. It was a family tradition that started back in 1954, when my grandfather bought his first roaster. I have [...]

2017-11-27T13:05:37+00:00

Benjamin Pozsgai, Germany

Germany Benjamin Pozsgai Moxxa Caffè Please tell us a little bit about yourself: Hi, I am Benjamin, my nickname for family and friends is Benson, so that's why I use this name for all social media accounts. I'm 40 years old and I live in Cologne with my wife and my two kids. Cologne is one of the biggest cities in Germany and we have a growing coffee scene there. How did you get started in coffee? I used to be a full time musician so I started to get into coffee just as a tool to stay awake. Late night drives or late night recording studio sessions or rehearsals wouldn't have worked without intense amounts of coffee. Mostly cheap discounter stuff so it was normal to add sugar and milk. Somehow I discovered there were very different qualitites of coffee out there and that caught my attention. Please list [...]

2017-11-27T13:06:02+00:00

Veda Viraswami, France

France Veda Viraswami Café Sati Please tell us a little bit about yourself: I was born in Mauritius and I have been living in France for the last 22 years. I am responsible for development and training at Café Sati, which is a French roastery. My journey in the coffee industry started in 2006 and is still going strong. How did you get started in coffee? I started in 2006 with little knowledge but with a lot of enthusiasm, and a will for learning. Please list the coffee competitions you have participated in, what year they took place, and your results: 2017 French Coffee Roasting Champion What roaster do you currently roast on? Probat How did you learn how to roast coffee? By sharing and experiencing things with other roasters and of course by reading almost everything ever published on the subject. What are your interests outside of coffee? Sports    veda.viraswami

2017-11-27T13:06:31+00:00

Théo Maitre, Denmark

Denmark Théo Maitre Sigfreds Kaffefabrik Please tell us a little bit about yourself: I am a French man who has lived in Denmark for the last 5 years.I work as a roaster in a micro roastery, in Aarhus. How did you get started in coffee? I had a strong interest for coffee in France when I worked in the restaurant industry. When I moved to Denmark I took a basic barista course in a coffee bar, an hour into the course the coffee bar got really busy and the boss asked me if I wanted to stay and help... Please list the coffee competitions you have participated in, what year they took place, and your results: The Danish Coffee Roasting Championship was the first time I've competed. What roaster do you currently roast on? Giesen W15 How did you learn how to roast coffee? Hands on, I would say... I've been [...]

2017-11-27T13:06:59+00:00

Robson Rodrigues Ribeiro, Brazil

Brazil Robson Rodrigues Ribeiro Cocarive Please tell us a little bit about yourself: I am a 29 years old roaster, Q-grader, cupper, and undying coffee lover. I begun my career in 2008 as coffee grader and today I am in charge of all coffee roasters at Cocarive, in Carmo de Minas. How did you get started in coffee? I started my career as coffee grader. Then I transfered to the cupping lab where I was an assistant, and today I am a cupper and roaster at Cocarive. In 2012 I became responsible for roasting at the cooperative. After many years of hard work, dedication, and constant learning, I am honored to represent Brazil at World Coffee Roasting Championship! I really could not have a greater achievement in my career. Please list the coffee competitions you have participated in, what year they took place, and your results: The Brazil Coffee Roasting Championship [...]