Lyndon Recera, UAE

2018-05-21T13:40:52-04:00

UAE
Lyndon Recera
Gold Box Roastery

Please tell us a little bit about yourself:

I am currently the Sales and Training Manager of Gold Box Roastery. This will be my second time to compete on the World stage. Teaching what I know is more of a passion kind of thing for me, because it gives me a self-fulfillment and satisfaction which helps me to improve more of my skills.

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

I am excited to try the specialty coffee shops in Amsterdam and also their craft beer.

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

2015 UAE National Barista Champion
2016 World Barista Championship (Competitor)
2016 WBC Winning Team (Team Tamper)
2016 UAE Regional Barista Champion
2017 UAE Barista Champion

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

I would like to thank my Gold Box Team, Barbara,Dean, Mark Uy, Alex, Reggie, Red, Justine. To my friends, Emman (Panda), (Lodi) Fred, Lablibell (Ganda), Kemal (Maman), And to the love of my life, Nanay Mickay.

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

The coffee industry is growing so fast, so we’ll just see what’s gonna be like in the future.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?:

Managing my own specialty coffee business in my own country. Having my own family as well.

What are your interests outside of coffee?:

I really have a lot of interests in fish, Koi fish to be more specific. And also I love to play with my long board and BMX.

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Kostiantyn Strelnykov, Ukraine

2018-05-18T14:04:55-04:00

Ukraine
Kostiantyn Strelnykov
One Love Coffee

Please tell us a little bit about yourself:

My name is Konstantin. I’m from Ukraine, and was born in Dnepr, and am now 22 years old. I currently work in Kyiv at ONE LOVE coffee. In 2016 and 2017 I took 5th place and 4th respectively at the Ukrainian Barista Championship, and in 2017I  took 3rd place at the Ukrainian Latte Art championship. For me sensory skills are so important for this goal. I took 3rd place at II open alternativo de cata in Barcelona.

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

I’m excited to visit coffee shops, look out for other competitors, and try coffee at World of Coffee.

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Joshua Tarlo, UK

2018-05-18T14:05:41-04:00

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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Cole McBride, US

2018-05-21T13:52:46-04:00

US
Cole McBride
Independent

Please tell us a little bit about yourself:

I’ve been working in coffee for 15 years after leaving my hometown Nashville Tennessee for a cross-country road trip with a friend. We ended up in Seattle at the age of 18, and that is when/where I fell in love with coffee for the first time. I’ll be 34 in August, and I’ve spent the last 15 years of my life dedicated to my calling and my passion, coffee. This industry is so unique and complex, and I’m so very grateful to be a part of it. I’m always excited to learn and grow, and the world of coffee has so much to offer. I’ve been continuing my journey in coffee through competition as a way to challenge myself to be the best coffee professional and person that I can be. I want to use my platform to be an example of being my best while being kind and uplifting those around me and inspiring people all over the world.

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

Very excited to spend time walking around a new city in a part of the world I’ve never been, just taking it all in.

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

USBC 2012 – NA
USBC 2013 – NA
NWRBC 2013 – 2nd Place
USBC 2014 – 4th Place
NWRBC 2014 – 2nd Place
USBC 2015 – 2nd Place
SWRBC 2015 – 3rd Place
USBC 2016 – 7th Place
Big Western 2016 – 1st Place
USBC 2017 – 9th Place
Qualifiers Knoxville 2017 – 2nd Place
USBC 2018 – 1st Place
Qualifers Reno 2018 – 3rd Place

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

Holly Bastin, Pete Licata, Velton Ross, Partick Oiye, Hiroko Ebizaki.

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

I believe that the role of the Barista will become even more important than it already is in the future. As coffee becomes more scarce and prices rise, telling the story of what’s in the cup will become an even bigger part of the picture than it already is.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?:

I plan on opening my own coffee shop. I would like to be a mentor to a new generation of Baristas and create a place where the craft of being a Barista can be a career.

What are your interests outside of coffee?:

Yoga, reading, spending time with my cat Juice and road trips

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Anh Vu, Vietnam

2018-05-18T14:04:21-04:00

Vietnam
Anh Vu
Bosgaurus Coffee Roaster

Please tell us a little bit about yourself:

Even though I’m very fresh to coffee industry, I will challenge myself on the world stage this time. I hope my brightest smile and graceful communication skills can make everybody happy (:

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

I want to explore a new coffee culture outside my country.

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

Vietnam National Barista Championship 2017 – Top 12
Vietnam National Barista Championship 2018 – Champion

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

Thanks to my supporting teammates, my coach, and many barista friends from my hometown who I have received so much advice and good luck from <3

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

I can see that there is lots of innovation and exploration going on right now. All of it is focusing on improving the processing method, so I believe in the future we will be able to explore more of the flavor spectrum due to new techniques.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?:

Getting older and more knowledgeable.

What are your interests outside of coffee?:

Food for sure.

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Remy Poirot, Belgium

2018-05-14T10:38:32-04:00

Belgium
Remy Poirot
Baxterstorey

Please tell us a little bit about yourself:

My coffee journey started 5 years ago in a coffee shop, in London, as a barista. Consistency in my work and the love for the industry allowed me to grow and become a head barista. It was all about sharing and developing people. I then started to take pictures of my work and publish them worldwide on Instagram. Sharing my skills and my knowledge with a bigger community, pushed me to take a step forward in my career and compete for the Belgium Barista Championship and win it.

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

Meet people from the industry from all over the world.

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

Belgium Barista Championship 2018 – 1st Place

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

A big thank you to: my coach Jana Slàmovà, Baxterstorey, Ellen Goormans, and Cuperus Koffie.

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

This is only the beginning of the specialty coffee industry, and I believe that we will see more and more coffee shops opening. I can see this growing even to restaurants and fine dining, where we could sell coffee as we sell wine (choose the origin, the variety and taste it).

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?:

I would love to have a career in the research and development in coffee or to combine my two passions—photography and coffee.

What are your interests outside of coffee?:

I spend my time out of work taking pictures of coffees or my travels. I also like discovering new food places or new food concepts.

Instagram

Kamo Giraldo, Chile

2018-05-14T10:37:51-04:00

Chile
Kamo Giraldo
TallerCafè

Please tell us a little bit about yourself:

I’m from Manizales, Colombia and interestingly I learned about coffee in Chile and it’s been six years since i made my first espresso. Now I’m part of the quality department in TallerCafé. As a Barista Trainer part of my job is sharing knowledge with people who are as in love with coffee as I am, and that is what I enjoy the most about it.

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

I’m amazed just thinking of living the experience! I want to learn all that I can,

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

This was my first national competition, so this is going to be my first WBC, and I hope there will be more in the future.

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

I really must say thanks to the great team of TallerCafè that always give their best. To my beautiful wife who loves coffee, my family and all the people in Chile and Colombia that have been supporting me.

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

Beyond changing, I think customers will be more aware of what to expect in a cup of coffee. That is wonderful because it means that people are learning and understanding all the work behind a good cup of coffee.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?:

Happy, drinking a lot of coffee. I would like to develop as Q grader, and work with producers on fincas.

What are your interests outside of coffee?:

I enjoy practicing yoga every day. I am a participant in a movement of food awareness, and I like reading and also enjoy being outdoors.

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Adam Torok, Hungary

2018-05-14T10:36:49-04:00

Hungary
Adam Torok
Bagira Coffee

Please tell us a little bit about yourself:

Hi! I started my own roasting company with my business partner in the end of the year 2016. Since then I’ve learned a lot about coffee, so that’s why I’m competing again. I won the Hungarian Latte Art Championship in 2010, and since then I’ve collected 2nd and 3rd place in the barista category. I judged competitions for 2 years, which made me feel the urge to compete again. So here I am, very excited about what happens in Amsterdam! I love coffee, and the whole coffee society. Last year we had World of Coffee in Budapest, which was amazing. We have a coffee shop in the inner city, where we were able serve a lot of good coffee to a lot of good people, while helping the competitors in our training room, to give them the opportunity to practice 🙂

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

Compete 🙂 Once I’m done, get out to the beach and relax.

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

2010 Hungarian Latte art Championship – 1st Place
2011 Hungarian Barista Championship – 2nd Place
2012 Hungarian Latte art Championship – 2nd Place
2012 Vergnano Best Barista World Competition – 1st Place
2013 Hungarian Barista Championship – 3rd Place
2018 Hungarian Barista Championship – 1st Place

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

Of course my girlfriend, my business partner, and to all of my colleagues—thank you!

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

I really feel that it will improve a lot. Better coffees, better machines. The only issue in Hungary is the crew. The only issue in Hungary right now is that it can be difficult to find the right people to work with. I think if customers get more chances to drink beautiful cups of coffee in speciality coffee shops, there’ll be more of them that know they don’t want to drink bad quality coffee.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?:

Hopefully still in the coffee business, and still in my roastery 🙂

What are your interests outside of coffee?:

Hospitality, food and drinks, gastronomy, cooking, and hiking.

Khadija Ósk, Iceland

2018-05-14T10:39:36-04:00

Iceland
Khadija Ósk
Kaffitár

Please tell us a little bit about yourself:

My name is Khadija Ósk. I’m a head barista at Kaffitár. I have enjoyed coffee since I was young but around 2 years ago I entered the speciality coffee world and have since fallen in love with coffee.

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

This will be my first time in Amsterdam so I’m excited about exploring the coffee scene and meeting all the competitors.

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

2018 Icelandic National Championship – 1st Place

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

I would like to thank my coach Kristín Biering from Kaffitár for all of the knowledge and support she gave me preparing for the championship. I would also like to thank Sonja Grant for all of the help and advice she has provided me with these past months. Thanks to Kaffitár for being an amazing company and supporting me through out this journey. Lastly I would like to thank Viktor Ellingsson whom I trained with and supported me. Thank you all so much.

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

There are a lot of things that I can see happening in the future in the coffee industry. Our technology is getting better and we are always finding new ways of brewing and making better coffee. Climate change will have a big impact on how we grow coffee and I hope we can adjust and find a way to make even greater coffee. It has been a lot of fun to see the coffee scene in Iceland grow and get bigger and I hope it will continue to do so in the next few years.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?:

I would love to still be working with coffee and passing down my knowledge to others who share the same passion. I would love to explore and learn more about roasting coffee in the future.

What are your interests outside of coffee?:

I enjoy drawing and reading books. I am a big fan of animals especially my two cats. Traveling is also a big interest of mine and I hope to do more of it in the future.

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