MACERATA (Italy) – Dublin is preparing to welcome the competitors of the 2016 World Barista Championship in the Irish capital from June 23 to 25. This is combined, as is traditional, with the World of Coffee. Victoria Arduino is again this year the official supplier of the competition coffee machine, the VA388 Black Eagle. Last year in Seattle this was much appreciated by the competitors.
World Coffee Events, organiser of the championship, has released the names of the national champions competing for the world title. There are 61, representing all continents. Victoria Arduino, a technical partner of the WBC, is giving a preview starting with the twelve competitors from the American continent, which in 2015 hosted the world competition. These represent Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico and the USA.
Country: BRAZIL
Barista: LEONARDO MOÇO
Company: CAFÉ DO MOÇO
Presentation: After 10 years working as a barista, this is my first year as also a coffee producer. I am very excited to show how my barista skills can have influence inside the cup since production. For many years Brazilian coffee farmers were focused on produce quantity but now we are looking for flavors, producing quality. My goal is to share knowledge with them to build a new wave in Brazil.
Country: CANADA
Barista: BEN PUT
Company: MONOGRAM COFFEE
Presentation: I am barista and one of three founders of Monogram Coffee in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. I’ve worked in coffee for 10 years as a barista, manager, trainer, and roaster. This is likely my last time competing at WBC because now that I have staff working for me I would like to coach them as they compete. Competition has had such a positive effect on me that I would like to share that with my staff.
Country: COLOMBIA
Barista: MAURICIO ROMERO
Company: AZAHAR COFFEE COMPANY
Presentation: Biker and tatoo lover i see coffee as my present, my past and my future. I was the National Barista Champion in Colombia in 2009. Now I back to become the new World Barista Champion whit the best whased coffee of the world.
Country: COSTA RICA
Barista: RICARDO AVENDAÑO
Company: INDEPENDENT
Presentation: I discovered my passion for innovation and creativity in the culinary arts while working as a bartender for 15 years. In 2009 I had the opportunity to enroll in a barista course through the Costa Rica Coffee Institute and I immediately fell in love with this industry. After working as a barista for the next couple of years I decided to compete in Costa Rica´s Barista Championship for the first time in 2011! After competing in 2011, 2012 and 2013, I decided to take some time away from work to be with my family. This wasn´t an easy decision to make but this time off helped me realize that coffee is a part of my life and this newfound realization enabled me to obtain the coveted title of Costa Rica´s Barista Champion. My passion for innovation and creativity in the culinary arts along with my ability to persevere and overcome any obstacle I face has allowed to truly find my place in this amazing industry!
Country: ECUADOR
Barista: DIEGO MEJÍA
Company: ISVEGLIO
Presentation: I’m totally committed to obtaining high quality coffee in Ecuador by working together with producers, roasters and baristas, in order to enhance the experience of consumers who seek specialty coffee. I’m constantly educating myself because my main goal is to contribute our industry by sharing knowledge, developing more efficient procedures along the value chain, generating traceability and consistency. I would like to help opening new direct trading relationships and therefore get better incomes for those producers who strive everyday so we can have a nice cup of coffee. All of this so that our country gets to be recognized as one of the most amazing origins.
Country: EL SALVADOR
Barista: VÍCTOR FLORES MENÉNDEZ
Company: BISCUIT FACTORY
Presentation: 5 years ago I was introduced to the specialty coffee world. Right now I’m running our family local business, serving great Salvadoran coffees and spreading the specialty coffee culture in my country. I’m thrilled to be part of this great coffee event, to know great coffee people and to represent my country and my coffee.
Country: GUATEMALA
Barista: JOSÉ DE LA PEÑA
Company: TECNOCHEF
Presentation: 4th time representing Guatemala in a World Barista Championship. Once, 7th place in Melbourne. Professional Barista for eight years. I work as coffee instructor for a Coffee School in Guatemala. This time, I´m bringing an exotic coffee from Guatemala, and I hope to impress the judges.
Country: HONDURAS
Barista: JUANA MARIA PORTILLO ROMERO
Company: COPUCAS COFFEE
Presentation: I have a very positive passion for coffee, always willing to work hard and learn new things attitude, and lover . Currently working as a Barista Coffee Capucas . I like to experience new challenges , I am a happy person and I enjoy what I do , I’m interested in the business of coffee as I know from family inheritance.
It started as a hobby, but it became my favorite race .
Country: MESSICO
Barista: JULIETA VÁZQUEZ RIVERA
Company: ARANDELA BARRA DE CAFÉ
Presentation: I’ve been a barista for 6 years now. I love coffee Because always there is a chance to learn something new and meet new people. This is my second time in WBC and it’s an honor to represent my country again.
Country: NICARAGUA
Barista: JORGE LUIS PARAMO
Company: MOLINO COFFEE SHOP
Presentation: I am a very passionate person with coffee, I like so much that is one of my priorities. I’m always sharing my knowledge with people who are starting out and you have interest in learning. I want to be an agent of change for the coffee culture. I think the coffee and baristan are a team and can change the mood of the person “coffee is a science” we work on it we do it because we like it, To learn coffee must experiment, be bold and try new things.
Country: PUERTO RICO
Barista: DANIEL RIVERA
Company: HACIENDA SAN PEDRO
Presentation: I’ve been working in the coffee industries for a little over 10 years. In addition to working with coffee, I’ve also worked with industrial designing, as a painter and an amateur musician. I love to educate but I also enjoy learning from those with more experience. I believe we all have the ability to improve not just ourselves but our surroundings as well.
Country: U.S.A.
Barista: LEMUEL BUTLER
Company: COUNTER CULTURE COFFEE
Presentation: I enjoy time spent with my family. When I am not making coffee, I can be found mountain biking or gardening with my children.
