UK
Joshua Tarlo
Origin Coffee

Please tell us a little bit about yourself:

Originally from Canada I started in coffee at 16 since then I’ve LIVED on three continents in three cities moving from being a barista, to roaster and green buyer. I moved to the UK in 2015 to work for Origin Coffee to run their program and have settled in London calling it home.

What are you excited to do while you are in Amsterdam?:

WAFFLES.

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

2012 Australia Brewers – 3rd Place
2013 Canada Brewers – 1st Place
2013 World Brewers Cup – 3rd Place
2015 Canada Barista – 2nd Place
2015 UK Brewers – 2nd Place

Is there anyone you would like to thank or recognize, or who helped you to prepare for the WBC?:

Ruby Fussell, Tom Sobey, Rose Nicholson, Andy Philips, Dan Goodenough, Zain, Simon, Paul, Will, Jack, Brits.

How do you see the coffee industry changing in the future?:

The aesthetics and roasting approaches will be adopted by more mainstream businesses. Small specialty roasters slow in proliferation because the early entries to market have become too difficult to compete in quality or service. Technological improvements allow for increased work flow lowering labour required for the cafe model. This makes cafes more profitable in running costs but increase cost for start ups. It increases in difficulty for cafes to be established in areas of high population as established brands can pay higher rents while start ups face challenges. Innovation in transportation will increase the out of area competition on roasters as cafes can look further afield for supply. Imports increase transparency and provided services to further differentiate their businesses and increase revenue channels. Exporters and mills increase in services to producers to help increase cup quality and draw better producers. Producer education looks to maximize potential with more commercial coffee increasing in quality to low speciality through techniques. Also tons of awesome stuff.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?:

Dad, I told you I’m staying in coffee!

What are your interests outside of coffee?:

My plants. Making loud music. My RuPaul Drag Race fantasy league.

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