In advance of the WBC event on June 21–24, we introduce the champions from Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, and Ireland.
FROM STAFF REPORTS
ALL PHOTOS COURTESY WORLD COFFEE EVENTS
The ancient city of Athens, Greece, will be the backdrop for the 2023 World Barista Championship on June 21–24, at the World of Coffee event. Forty-eight national champions from around the world will take the stage to compete for the ultimate coffee championship title.
In the run-up to the World Barista Championship, we will showcase these champions here at Barista Magazine Online in the alphabetical order of their countries. (Here are part one and two of this series.) Today, meet the champions of Germany, Greece, Guatemala, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, and Ireland.
GERMANY
ELLA SIMON
INDEPENDENT
“My name is Ella Simon, I will be 26 years old when competing at the World Barista Championship, and I’ve worked in coffee for five years. I started working self-employed doing event catering, which I had to pause due to COVID. After being (head) barista or head of coffee for different cafés in Germany and Switzerland, I moved back to Hamburg in January. I do consulting, coaching, and events now and am super happy and glad to have teamed up with Samba Coffee Roasters in Athens to train for WBC. Also I am very thankful I had the chance to visit the farms and stations of my producer Tamiru in Bensa to pick a coffee for the competition. To represent him and his team is a true honour. Fun fact about me: I actually want to become an author and am currently working on novels and also illustrating a kid’s book.“
GREECE
NIKOS ANTZARAS
SAMBA COFFEE ROASTERS
“I’m the head roaster of Samba Coffee Roasters in Athens. I’m also a Q Arabica Grader. I’m the barista champion of Greece 2022-23. This is my second time in the World Barista Championship. I’m competing since 2015. I have worked in the coffee industry since 2009.“
GUATEMALA
PAULO MELENDEZ
FINCA EL ZAPOTE GCC
“I currently work in Pittsburgh (USA) since I moved there four years ago. But I have lived my whole life in Guatemala. This is my second time competing in the World Barista Championship. I was born in the coffee Industry since my dad owns a coffee farm, and he is the fourth generation of my family that produces coffee. But professionally I started my career when I was 12 years old with my first barista certificate from ANACAFE.“
HONG KONG
DAWN CHAN
WAN WAN COFFEE ROASTERS
“I work at @wanwancoffeeroasters & @hostxamber, and I love the World Barista Championship, as it’s a place where we can share, learn, and grow together.“
INDIA
JASEEM ABBAS
NINEDOTCOFFEE
“I am a home barista and a data scientist. Two years ago, I had my first espresso from a coffee shop. I was fascinated by it. I wanted to make the same cup at home. And that’s when it started. I began to learn how to brew coffee at home. That’s when I heard about the barista competitions for the first time; I wanted to participate. I participated in 2022, and this is my second time.“
INDONESIA
PATRIK VINSENSIUS
COMMON GROUNDS ROASTERY
“I’m Patrik from Indonesia and currently working at Common Grounds Roastery. Competition is one of many ways for me to contribute to the industry by bringing new concepts and ideas. I began to work as a barista while studying for an engineering degree. After graduating, I’m fully focused on working in the coffee industry. I’m thankful to be able to study and work because it helps me to grow as a coffee enthusiast from a different perspective.“
IRELAND
WOJCIECH TYSLER
BEWLEYS TEA & COFFEE
“I work with Bewleys Tea & Coffee for eight years as a coffee excellence manager. I’m competing since 2015, and this will be my third time competing on the world stage. I love a challenge and always love improving my skill. The fact that I can go to the world stage and always bring something back with me is a great experience—just like meeting like-minded people, and (seeing) innovations, trends and coffees within the industry. I like shiny objects. 🙂 I’ve always been a creative person, and coffee is a craft so (it) felt like the perfect fit. :)“
Stay tuned to Barista Magazine Online in the coming weeks as we introduce all 48 National Barista Champions set to take the stage at the 2023 World Barista Championship in Athens, Greece, June 21–24!
THE LATEST BARISTA MAGAZINE
Out now: It’s the June + July 2023 issue of Barista Magazine featuring Martin Shabaya of Kenya on the cover. Read it for free with our digital edition. Get your Barista Magazine delivered; start a subscription today! Visit our online store to renew your subscription or order back issues.
