MACERATA (Italy) – There are twenty-seven champion baristas from European countries admitted to the 2016 World Barista Championship scheduled in a few days in Dublin (23-25 June). Europe is the most represented continent among the 61 champions in the race.
Victoria Arduino, technical partner of the 2016 WBC and provider of the official competition coffee machine, the VA388 Black Eagle, presents you a preview of a first list of European competitors expected at the competition in Dublin. These are the champions of Austria, Belarus, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia and Lithuania.
Country: AUSTRIA
Barista: CHRISTIAN ARAMBURO
Company: BUNA
Presentation: I work in BUNA the only specialty Coffee shop in Graz. the second largest city in Austria. Although it has been a challenge to really get people in the specialty Coffee, we stand by our vision. We maybe very small but we take pride in quality. I came from humble beginnings and experienced challenges already as person and as a Coffee professional but understanding to overcome this challenges gives us pride in what we do.
Country: BELARUS
Barista: EVGENI PINCHUKOV
Company: KITCHEN COFFEE ROASTERS
Presentation: Hello! My name is Evgeni, I’m from Belarus! I’m 23 and I’m really love coffee! I work with coffee about 4 years. I’m started a barista in the small coffeeshop in my country, but now I’m a roaster and chef-barista in our company. It is great, because I love what I do and do what I love!
For the first time Belarus participates in the WBC and I feel great pride for this opportunity to represent my country!
Country: BELGIUM
Barista: PANUWAT YOOSAKDA
Company: CUPERUS KOFFIE
Presentation: I’m a head barista and a coffee roaster of Cuperus Koffie, the oldest coffee bar in the city, since 1823. Based in Antwerp, Belgium, the world biggest coffee port. I only have been living here for 3 years, but the coffee scene here got my eyes wide open (even I still have Asian eyes) and has taught me so much. And being part of WBC in this year, it’s my honor to do it with the whole Belgium behind my back….WAIT, I forgot to tell you that I’m originally from Thailand. So there’re a lot of supports from there as well.
Country: CZECH REPUBLIK
Barista: ONDŘEJ HURTÍK
Company: DOUBLESHOT
Presentation: I´m working as a barista and wholesale for czech speciality coffee roastery doubleshot.
I love competing because it push forward our industry very fast.
Country: DENMARK
Barista: MADS MARK-ERIKSEN
Company: LA CABRA COFFEE
Presentation: My name is Mads and I’m 21 years old. I have been working as a barista for almost three years now – working at La Cabra Coffee for just over a year now. Working at a coffee shop that both roast and source coffees of high quality has opened my eyes to the qualities of the raw material, which is what i aim to convey at the World Barista Championships. It’s my first time competing, so I can’t wait to experience the biggest stage and serve transparent and bright coffees for the judges.
Country: FINLAND
Barista: JARNO PERÄKYLÄ
Company: KAHVILA SÄVY
Presentation: This is my third year competing and first time as National Champion. I work as a barista in Kahvila Sävy and El Fant coffee & winebar in Helsinki.
Country: FRANCE
Barista: CHARLOTTE MALAVAL
Company: DITTA ARTIGIANALE
Presentation: I’m a free-lance Barista. I’m representing Ditta Artigianale, and am an ambassador for Maxicoffee and Urnex. Before discovering coffee, I did a degree in Cultural Anthropology. I’m always so grateful for barista competition and all of the preparation which, for me, represents the most intense and fascinating experience. It pushes me to question myself, but most of all it offers me the incredible privilege to learn and share precious moments with people that I sincerely admire and respect so much.
Country: GERMANY
Barista: ERNA TOSBERG
Company: ROESTBAR JOKA E K.
Presentation: Head Barista & Trainer (AST) at roestbar coffee roaster in Münster Germany.
Country: GREECE
Barista: STEFANOS PATERAKIS
Company: TAF
Presentation: Coffee is my energy, apart from a profession. I enjoy working with coffee so much, that most of the times it doesn’t seem like working. I love communicating with people, preparing the most important beverage of their day. I like the relation a barista acquires with his customers. Apart form coffee, I like spending time with friends and my dog, Rihanna. Looking forward to the championship.
Country: HUNGARY
Barista: JOCI DEÁK
Company: ESPRESSO EMBASSY
Presentation: I’ve worked as a barista for almost 4 years, right now working at Espresso Embassy, in Budapest. We have a great team and I feel like I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for all the support and help I got from my colleagues.
Country: ICELAND
Barista: TRYGGVI ÞÓR SKARPHÉÐINSSON
Company: KAFFITÁR
Presentation: A passionate coffee lover from Akureyri, Iceland!
Country: IRELAND
Barista: NATALIA PIOTROWSKA
Company: INDIPENDENTE
Presentation: My name is Natalia Piotrowska and I’m 27 years old. I’m Bachelor of Business Management and Human Resource Management. I live in Ireland for last 8 years and this is where my coffee adventure started. I’ve been competing in national barista championships for last 5 years. I’m 2015 and 2016 Irish Barista Champion.
Country: ITALY
Barista: ANGELO SEGONI
Company: QUARTA CAFFE
Presentation: I have been working in the coffee for the last 11 years. I moved to Uk in the age of 19 and started to work in a coffee shop in London for a company called Caffe nero , quickly progressed as manager and I managed few store in the city. Than I moved to Australia Sydney , where I got amazed by the coffee culture and started to work and study in the specialty coffee industry , I have lived in Oz for 3 years. Moved back to Italy I started to worker as trainer and share all I have learned with the italian community , I’m working now as a consulting for Quarta Caffe s.p.a. and I’m in charge of the training facilities .
Country: LATVIA
Barista: JANIS PODINS
Company: FIVE ELEPHANT COFFEE ROASTERY
Presentation: My name is Janis. I ended my rugby career at the young age of 19 and decided to become a barista, because I did not know what it was. It was something to do with coffee and I really loved coffee. So I tried until I became a barista. 3 years later I am even more excited about coffee. I want to explore more , know more and share more. Everyday is a learning experience and that’s what matters the most. I had the urge that there is something more to know or more to do, so I moved to Berlin to learn and explore and so far it has been amazing. Working with people that drive you forward is the most satisfying. For now I’m enjoying this and we will see what the future brings.
Country: LITHUANIA
Barista: LAURYNAS ARLAUSKAS
Company: COFFEE HILL
Presentation: Hi guys, my name is Laurynas, I work for CoffeeHill coffee shops chain in Lithuania. I got to coffee industry less than year ago, and this journey was just amazing in all aspects! Knowledge about coffee totally changed my view to life, I got inspired by it, and two months of training for national championship paid of, I am really excited how many people I have already met and even more excited about WBC as it will show me how specialty coffee culture looks like in the highest level.
