Name: Nicoletta Ntaletsou Location: Athens, Greece How long have you been working in the coffee industry? 15 years! I've been a barista since I got my first job. Where do you currently work? Mokka Coffee Shop, Athens What's the highlight of your career? Discovering the specialty side of coffee in the past two years. What has been your most embarrassing moment in coffee? None, i've only had happy and good moments! What does the future of coffee hold? Development and knowledge. Favourite coffee of 2016? I love any coffee from Africa!

Name: Nicoletta Ntaletsou

Location: Athens, Greece

How long have you been working in the coffee industry? 15 years! I've been a barista since I got my first job.

Where do you currently work? Mokka Coffee Shop, Athens

What's the highlight of your career? Discovering the specialty side of coffee in the past two years.

What has been your most embarrassing moment in coffee? None, i've only had happy and good moments!

What does the future of coffee hold? Development and knowledge.

Favourite coffee of 2016? I love any coffee from Africa!

Name: Irina Sharipova Location: Saint Petersburg, Russia How long have you been working in the coffee industry?  5 years What is your current role?  Barista Trainer and Quality Control at Mad Espresso  What's the highlight of your career? Achieving 3rd place in the Russian Barista Championship and also becoming a sensory judge. What has been your most embarrassing moment in coffee?  When my grinder broke during my first championship! What does the future of coffee hold?  Eternal education and lovely friendly people worldwide :) Favourite coffee of 2016?  Burundi Munkanze

Name: Irina Sharipova

Location: Saint Petersburg, Russia

How long have you been working in the coffee industry? 5 years

What is your current role? Barista Trainer and Quality Control at Mad Espresso 

What's the highlight of your career? Achieving 3rd place in the Russian Barista Championship and also becoming a sensory judge.

What has been your most embarrassing moment in coffee? When my grinder broke during my first championship!

What does the future of coffee hold? Eternal education and lovely friendly people worldwide :)

Favourite coffee of 2016? Burundi Munkanze

Name: Ante Bikic Location:  Split, Croatia How long have you been working in the coffee industry?  8 years What is your current role?  Barista & Roaster at Agenda Coffee What's the highlight of your career? Organising the Split Latte Art Challenge and opening the first specialty coffee roaster in the region. What has been your most embarrassing moment in coffee?  Spilling a drink in a latte art competition. What does the future of coffee hold?  The future holds endless possibilities. My plan is to open a roastery and cafe where you can try coffees from all over the world. I believe that this kind of business is missing from my town.  Favourite coffee of 2016?  Costa Rica Tarrazu by Cogito Coffee

Name: Ante Bikic

Location: Split, Croatia

How long have you been working in the coffee industry? 8 years

What is your current role? Barista & Roaster at Agenda Coffee

What's the highlight of your career? Organising the Split Latte Art Challenge and opening the first specialty coffee roaster in the region.

What has been your most embarrassing moment in coffee? Spilling a drink in a latte art competition.

What does the future of coffee hold? The future holds endless possibilities. My plan is to open a roastery and cafe where you can try coffees from all over the world. I believe that this kind of business is missing from my town. 

Favourite coffee of 2016? Costa Rica Tarrazu by Cogito Coffee

Name: Michael Munroe Location:  Zurich, Switzerland How long have you been working in the coffee industry?  I began working in coffee six years ago when I was fifteen in my parents cafe during my last years of school. A couple of years later I moved to Melbourne and got my first specialty coffee position at Sensory Lab/St Ali. What is your current role?  Head Barista, Coffee Trainer and blogger at michaelmunroe.co ffee What's the highlight of your career? The highlight of my career so far was being awarded one of the Fellowship positions by SCAA to attend Re:co Symposium 2016 in Seattle. This was an incredible experience that introduced me to coffee sustainability, since then I have been exploring how as a baraista I can make a difference, through service and communication.  What has been your most embarrassing moment in coffee?  Dropping a shower screen screw down the sink on the first day of my new job! What does the future of coffee hold?  I think the future of coffee will reveal itself further over the next 10-20 years as new techniques to combat climate change are developed, new quality and resistant varietals are sought out and a more prosperous supply chain is established. I would also like to see more and more relationships between roasters/cafes and producers develop, resulting in yearly purchases, hands on quality development and increased notoriety of producers from customers. As for myself I hope to continue making customers happy with great service and satisfied with delicious coffee and through this get more and more people excited about specialty coffee. I would like to continue working on how we can engage with customers in the industry efforts of quality and sustainability as this provides more support to our supply chain. Favourite coffee of 2016?  Colombia Carlos Guamanga (Pitalito, Huila) - roasted by Small Batch Roasting co.

Name: Michael Munroe

Location: Zurich, Switzerland

How long have you been working in the coffee industry? I began working in coffee six years ago when I was fifteen in my parents cafe during my last years of school. A couple of years later I moved to Melbourne and got my first specialty coffee position at Sensory Lab/St Ali.

What is your current role? Head Barista, Coffee Trainer and blogger at michaelmunroe.coffee

What's the highlight of your career? The highlight of my career so far was being awarded one of the Fellowship positions by SCAA to attend Re:co Symposium 2016 in Seattle. This was an incredible experience that introduced me to coffee sustainability, since then I have been exploring how as a baraista I can make a difference, through service and communication. 

What has been your most embarrassing moment in coffee? Dropping a shower screen screw down the sink on the first day of my new job!

What does the future of coffee hold? I think the future of coffee will reveal itself further over the next 10-20 years as new techniques to combat climate change are developed, new quality and resistant varietals are sought out and a more prosperous supply chain is established. I would also like to see more and more relationships between roasters/cafes and producers develop, resulting in yearly purchases, hands on quality development and increased notoriety of producers from customers. As for myself I hope to continue making customers happy with great service and satisfied with delicious coffee and through this get more and more people excited about specialty coffee. I would like to continue working on how we can engage with customers in the industry efforts of quality and sustainability as this provides more support to our supply chain.

Favourite coffee of 2016? Colombia Carlos Guamanga (Pitalito, Huila) - roasted by Small Batch Roasting co.

Name: Paul O'Carroll Location: Cork, Ireland How long have you been working in the coffee industry?  4.5 years. My first role was as a barista. What is your current role? Cafe owner – The Bookshelf Coffee House  What's the highlight of your career? Owning my own successful cafe What has been your most embarrassing moment in coffee?  In hindsight all the coffees I made in my first 6 months of working as a barista. I still cringe now! What does the future of coffee hold?  For me, another cafe or two where I can introduce people to good coffee, served the way it should be. Favourite coffee of 2016? Definitely El Divino Nino, a really sweet Colombian coffee roasted by The Barn who supply The Bookshelf Coffee House.    

Name: Paul O'Carroll

Location: Cork, Ireland

How long have you been working in the coffee industry? 4.5 years. My first role was as a barista.

What is your current role? Cafe owner – The Bookshelf Coffee House 

What's the highlight of your career? Owning my own successful cafe

What has been your most embarrassing moment in coffee? In hindsight all the coffees I made in my first 6 months of working as a barista. I still cringe now!

What does the future of coffee hold? For me, another cafe or two where I can introduce people to good coffee, served the way it should be.

Favourite coffee of 2016? Definitely El Divino Nino, a really sweet Colombian coffee roasted by The Barn who supply The Bookshelf Coffee House.

 

 

Name: Ricardo Gandara Location:  Manchester, England How long have you been working in the coffee industry?  1 year as a barista and 3 years as the co-founder of Cup North. What is your current role?  Barista for Grindsmiths coffee shop What's the highlight of your career?  Organising Cup North and all the events surrounding the festival. What has been your most embarrassing moment in coffee?  Whenever a flat white is a flappacino! What does the future of coffee hold?  Development and education of baristas and consumers on the value of specialty coffee Favourite coffee of 2016? Loving this Kenya Gatuiyaini from Heart & Graft and also a great Nicaraguan Santa Maria de Lourdes from Foundry Coffee Roasters.  

Name: Ricardo Gandara

Location: Manchester, England

How long have you been working in the coffee industry? 1 year as a barista and 3 years as the co-founder of Cup North.

What is your current role? Barista for Grindsmiths coffee shop

What's the highlight of your career? Organising Cup North and all the events surrounding the festival.

What has been your most embarrassing moment in coffee? Whenever a flat white is a flappacino!

What does the future of coffee hold? Development and education of baristas and consumers on the value of specialty coffee

Favourite coffee of 2016? Loving this Kenya Gatuiyaini from Heart & Graft and also a great Nicaraguan Santa Maria de Lourdes from Foundry Coffee Roasters.

 

Name:  Paul Panicco Location:  Cape Town, RSA How long have you been working in the coffee industry?  I've worked as a part-time barista for four years. What is your current role?  Product designer and Aeropresser What's the highlight of your career?  Designing a brew station for alternative brewing.  What has been your most embarrassing moment in coffee?  Not realising that i'm serving burnt milk! What does the future of coffee hold?  I hope to create my own line of modular equipment for 3rd wave coffee shops and a range of hand-brew accessories for specialty coffee consumers. Favourite coffee of 2016?  Kenyan Therikwa from Rosetta Coffee Roasters in Cape Town. 

Name: Paul Panicco

Location: Cape Town, RSA

How long have you been working in the coffee industry? I've worked as a part-time barista for four years.

What is your current role? Product designer and Aeropresser

What's the highlight of your career? Designing a brew station for alternative brewing. 

What has been your most embarrassing moment in coffee? Not realising that i'm serving burnt milk!

What does the future of coffee hold? I hope to create my own line of modular equipment for 3rd wave coffee shops and a range of hand-brew accessories for specialty coffee consumers.

Favourite coffee of 2016? Kenyan Therikwa from Rosetta Coffee Roasters in Cape Town. 

Name: Aliaksandr Kuzin Location:  Minsk, Belarus How long have you been working in the coffee industry?  For one year and a half. I found at a job at a small cafe in the business district to help support me in my freshman year. What is your current role? Barista at Minsk Double B Coffee and Tea What's the highlight of your career?  Having the opportunity to meet 'famous' coffee people from all over the world.  What has been your most embarrassing moment in coffee?  The moment when you are unable to satisfy the expectations of a customer. What does the future of coffee hold?  We must strive to become better and do better! Favourite coffee of 2016?  Colombia Sanremo

Name: Aliaksandr Kuzin

Location: Minsk, Belarus

How long have you been working in the coffee industry? For one year and a half. I found at a job at a small cafe in the business district to help support me in my freshman year.

What is your current role? Barista at Minsk Double B Coffee and Tea

What's the highlight of your career? Having the opportunity to meet 'famous' coffee people from all over the world. 

What has been your most embarrassing moment in coffee? The moment when you are unable to satisfy the expectations of a customer.

What does the future of coffee hold? We must strive to become better and do better!

Favourite coffee of 2016? Colombia Sanremo

Name: Emiliya Yordanova Location:  Edinburgh, Scotland How long have you been working in the coffee industry?  7 years (3 of those in speciality). At my first ever job (Colours & Flavours, Sofia) and I was front of house - it was almost a whole year until I got to make coffee, as I got to learn and appreciate how much goes into it. What is your current role?  Head Barista for Brew Lab, Edinburgh. What's the highlight of your career?  Supporting our baristas in competition (Claire 3rd UKBC and John 5th UKBrC) - they worked so hard and it was very special to be there for them all the way through. What has been your most embarrassing moment in coffee?  One summer working in the Brew Lab pop-up over the Fringe a lovely cheery lady asked me for "a nice cappuccino" - to which I replied "we don't do those, but I can make you an iced latte?" which must have been quite confusing! It took a while for us both to figure it out but she got a super nice cappuccino in the end and I have never misheard "nice" ever since. What does the future of coffee hold?  The journey has just begun! Favourite coffee of 2016?  La Palma y El Tucan's Lactic Fermentation Typica roasted by La Cabra.

Name: Emiliya Yordanova

Location: Edinburgh, Scotland

How long have you been working in the coffee industry? 7 years (3 of those in speciality). At my first ever job (Colours & Flavours, Sofia) and I was front of house - it was almost a whole year until I got to make coffee, as I got to learn and appreciate how much goes into it.

What is your current role? Head Barista for Brew Lab, Edinburgh.

What's the highlight of your career? Supporting our baristas in competition (Claire 3rd UKBC and John 5th UKBrC) - they worked so hard and it was very special to be there for them all the way through.

What has been your most embarrassing moment in coffee? One summer working in the Brew Lab pop-up over the Fringe a lovely cheery lady asked me for "a nice cappuccino" - to which I replied "we don't do those, but I can make you an iced latte?" which must have been quite confusing! It took a while for us both to figure it out but she got a super nice cappuccino in the end and I have never misheard "nice" ever since.

What does the future of coffee hold? The journey has just begun!

Favourite coffee of 2016? La Palma y El Tucan's Lactic Fermentation Typica roasted by La Cabra.

Name:  Daria Pinchuk Location:  Minsk, Belarus How long have you been working in the coffee industry?  3 years as a barista. What is your current role?  Barista and Roast-master at Manufactura Coffee Shop. What's the highlight of your career?  Achieving 2nd place in the SCAE Belarus Barista Championships! What has been your most embarrassing moment in coffee?  None :) What does the future of coffee hold?  Plantation trips! Favourite coffee of 2016? I'm still looking for it ;)

Name: Daria Pinchuk

Location: Minsk, Belarus

How long have you been working in the coffee industry? 3 years as a barista.

What is your current role? Barista and Roast-master at Manufactura Coffee Shop.

What's the highlight of your career? Achieving 2nd place in the SCAE Belarus Barista Championships!

What has been your most embarrassing moment in coffee? None :)

What does the future of coffee hold? Plantation trips!

Favourite coffee of 2016? I'm still looking for it ;)

Name:  Caroline Irwin  Location:  Belfast, Northern Ireland How long have you been working in the coffee industry?  4 years –my first job was in a student coffee shop – no better way to learn quickly! What is your current role?  Barista at 5A Cafe, Belfast What's the highlight of your career? Training for the Irish Brewers Cup 2015 What has been your most embarrassing moment in coffee?  I used a naked portafilter once in a group training class and the first go really put me in my place! What does the future of coffee hold?  Adventure! Favourite coffee of 2016?  El Diamante, Colombia roasted by Five Elephant.

Name: Caroline Irwin 

Location: Belfast, Northern Ireland

How long have you been working in the coffee industry? 4 years –my first job was in a student coffee shop – no better way to learn quickly!

What is your current role? Barista at 5A Cafe, Belfast

What's the highlight of your career? Training for the Irish Brewers Cup 2015

What has been your most embarrassing moment in coffee? I used a naked portafilter once in a group training class and the first go really put me in my place!

What does the future of coffee hold? Adventure!

Favourite coffee of 2016? El Diamante, Colombia roasted by Five Elephant.

Name:  Blanche Novotná Location: Jilové u Prahy, Czech Republic How long have you been working in the coffee industry?  I've started about 12 years ago when I started to work in small café owned by Petra Veselá. What is your current role?  PR manager and assistant at Petra Veselá and Gwilym Davies/ Interactive Designer at VCCP. What's the highlight of your career?  When Gwilym Davies moved to my hometown ;) What has been your most embarrassing moment in coffee?  The first month when I was working in that cafe in Jílové came a famous food blogger. It was 10 years ago and all the hype around coffee and food blogging has just started. And it was the day when kids finish the school so the cafe was full of screaming kids, I was so busy, so lame and the guy was just watching me all the time and writting his review. I knew I screwed up a big time...but somehow the review has never been published. Lucky me! What does the future of coffee hold?  I'm more observant than actual participant in the coffee culture and I believe that marketing is very important for the future of coffee. I like to watch all the new trends and movements, meet the people around coffee and help them with the marketing things. Favourite coffee of 2016?  La Boheme Biru Bekele Ethiopian

Name: Blanche Novotná

Location: Jilové u Prahy, Czech Republic

How long have you been working in the coffee industry? I've started about 12 years ago when I started to work in small café owned by Petra Veselá.

What is your current role? PR manager and assistant at Petra Veselá and Gwilym Davies/ Interactive Designer at VCCP.

What's the highlight of your career? When Gwilym Davies moved to my hometown ;)

What has been your most embarrassing moment in coffee? The first month when I was working in that cafe in Jílové came a famous food blogger. It was 10 years ago and all the hype around coffee and food blogging has just started. And it was the day when kids finish the school so the cafe was full of screaming kids, I was so busy, so lame and the guy was just watching me all the time and writting his review. I knew I screwed up a big time...but somehow the review has never been published. Lucky me!

What does the future of coffee hold? I'm more observant than actual participant in the coffee culture and I believe that marketing is very important for the future of coffee. I like to watch all the new trends and movements, meet the people around coffee and help them with the marketing things.

Favourite coffee of 2016? La Boheme Biru Bekele Ethiopian

Name:  Freda Yuan Location:  London, UK How long have you been working in the coffee industry?  3 years as a barista. What is your current role? I'm looking for a job in a roastery. What's the highlight of your career?  When I qualified as a Q-Grader. What has been your most embarrassing moment in coffee?  Failing the Intermediate Brewing Course. What does the future of coffee hold?  I want to make an impact – producing good tasty coffee from seed to cup! Favourite coffee of 2016? Biftu Gudina roasted by Clifton Coffee Roasters brewed at Lyle's. Tastes like a peach in a cup.

Name: Freda Yuan

Location: London, UK

How long have you been working in the coffee industry? 3 years as a barista.

What is your current role? I'm looking for a job in a roastery.

What's the highlight of your career? When I qualified as a Q-Grader.

What has been your most embarrassing moment in coffee? Failing the Intermediate Brewing Course.

What does the future of coffee hold? I want to make an impact – producing good tasty coffee from seed to cup!

Favourite coffee of 2016? Biftu Gudina roasted by Clifton Coffee Roasters brewed at Lyle's. Tastes like a peach in a cup.

Name:  Joszef Csepe Location:  Dublin, Ireland How long have you been working in the coffee industry?  I've been working as a barista for 4 years now. My first job in coffee was a bartender/barista job in an Italian restaurant. What is your current role?  Head Barista/Roaster for Two Fifty Square Coffee Roasters. What's the highlight of your career?  When the very first coffee I roasted turned out to be enjoyable. What has been your most embarrassing moment in coffee? I can't recall any! What does the future of coffee hold?  Better grinders! Favourite coffee of 2016?  I've had lots of special coffee so far this year. No favourites yet though. Picture by Gabor Nagy

Name: Joszef Csepe

Location: Dublin, Ireland

How long have you been working in the coffee industry? I've been working as a barista for 4 years now. My first job in coffee was a bartender/barista job in an Italian restaurant.

What is your current role? Head Barista/Roaster for Two Fifty Square Coffee Roasters.

What's the highlight of your career? When the very first coffee I roasted turned out to be enjoyable.

What has been your most embarrassing moment in coffee? I can't recall any!

What does the future of coffee hold? Better grinders!

Favourite coffee of 2016? I've had lots of special coffee so far this year. No favourites yet though.

Picture by Gabor Nagy

Name: Tomas Laca Location:  Prague, Czech Republic How long have you been working in the coffee industry?  I started to be interested in specialty coffee at University, visiting festivals, reading about it and in the end working as barista. Working experience 2 years. What is your current role?  Head Barista, QC & Marketing for Coffee Source What's the highlight of your career?  I competed only once in Cup Tasters and I was leader in the first round but later didn't do well in finals. I was happy with results since much experienced were competing. What has been your most embarrassing moment in coffee?  We created a nitro using Rwanda and it all tasted like potato... What does the future of coffee hold?  I'd love to compete and travel. Favourite coffee of 2016? Colombia Sudan Rume from our roastery!  

Name: Tomas Laca

Location: Prague, Czech Republic

How long have you been working in the coffee industry? I started to be interested in specialty coffee at University, visiting festivals, reading about it and in the end working as barista. Working experience 2 years.

What is your current role? Head Barista, QC & Marketing for Coffee Source

What's the highlight of your career? I competed only once in Cup Tasters and I was leader in the first round but later didn't do well in finals. I was happy with results since much experienced were competing.

What has been your most embarrassing moment in coffee? We created a nitro using Rwanda and it all tasted like potato...

What does the future of coffee hold? I'd love to compete and travel.

Favourite coffee of 2016? Colombia Sudan Rume from our roastery!

 

Name: Manos Apostolopoulos Location:  Athens, Greece How long have you been working in the coffee industry?  I started working as a barista eight years ago. My first job was in a chain coffee shop.  What is your current role?  Barista and Barista Trainer for Kudu Coffee Roaster What's the highlight of your career?  The 3rd Place on the Greek National Coffee in Good Spirits Championship of 2016 was a nice touch. What has been your most embarrassing moment in coffee?  When i was just started to work in coffee industry i was doing some waiter's shifts and one day I had so much glasses on my tray and one of them fell on my head and it was full with coffee. but wasn't embarrassing it was funny , I think we should never feel embarrassing for our jobs!! What does the future of coffee hold?  Who knows what tomorrow will bring, maybe sunshine maybe rain!!(Marion Black song).I don't know what I'm going to do in the future or where I will be,but the sure thing is I will keep trying to being better and better, l'll try to learn new things about the coffee, new ways of brewing and more innovating things! Favourite coffee of 2016?  Kenya Thungury roasted by Kudu Coffee Roasters it was my winning coffee

Name: Manos Apostolopoulos

Location: Athens, Greece

How long have you been working in the coffee industry? I started working as a barista eight years ago. My first job was in a chain coffee shop. 

What is your current role? Barista and Barista Trainer for Kudu Coffee Roaster

What's the highlight of your career? The 3rd Place on the Greek National Coffee in Good Spirits Championship of 2016 was a nice touch.

What has been your most embarrassing moment in coffee? When i was just started to work in coffee industry i was doing some waiter's shifts and one day I had so much glasses on my tray and one of them fell on my head and it was full with coffee. but wasn't embarrassing it was funny , I think we should never feel embarrassing for our jobs!!

What does the future of coffee hold? Who knows what tomorrow will bring, maybe sunshine maybe rain!!(Marion Black song).I don't know what I'm going to do in the future or where I will be,but the sure thing is I will keep trying to being better and better, l'll try to learn new things about the coffee, new ways of brewing and more innovating things!

Favourite coffee of 2016? Kenya Thungury roasted by Kudu Coffee Roasters it was my winning coffee

Name:  Suhas Dwarakanath Location: Dubai, U.A.E How long have you been working in the coffee industry?  For 5 years I have been training and demonstrating products. What is your current role?  Brand Manager for Fresh Express What's the highlight of your career? Completing my Coffee Diploma and getting promoted to being a Brand Manager of a coffee brand. What has been your most embarrassing moment in coffee?  Washing the coffee grounds down the sink the whole day and creating a flood in the training center! What does the future of coffee hold?  Definitely farming and innovative processing techniques with Indian coffee. Oh, and launching my own brand of smart water boiler for brewing! Favourite coffee of 2016?  Cup of Excellence Costa Rica 2016. Farmer : Francisco Mena Vilchez. Farm: Monte Llano Bonito. Score: 93.41. Final Rank No 1

Name: Suhas Dwarakanath

Location: Dubai, U.A.E

How long have you been working in the coffee industry? For 5 years I have been training and demonstrating products.

What is your current role? Brand Manager for Fresh Express

What's the highlight of your career? Completing my Coffee Diploma and getting promoted to being a Brand Manager of a coffee brand.

What has been your most embarrassing moment in coffee? Washing the coffee grounds down the sink the whole day and creating a flood in the training center!

What does the future of coffee hold? Definitely farming and innovative processing techniques with Indian coffee. Oh, and launching my own brand of smart water boiler for brewing!

Favourite coffee of 2016? Cup of Excellence Costa Rica 2016. Farmer : Francisco Mena Vilchez. Farm: Monte Llano Bonito. Score: 93.41. Final Rank No 1

Name:  Jess Fallone Location:  Canada How long have you been working in the coffee industry?  Four years in the industry with varied experiences. I started as a barista. What is your current role?  Travelling Barista What's the highlight of your career? Learning to roast and creating different profiles. What has been your most embarrassing moment in coffee?  Having an Aeropress explode during a demonstration – coffee grinds everywhere! What does the future of coffee hold?  Hopefully my own cafe. Favourite coffee of 2016?  Undecided.

Name: Jess Fallone

Location: Canada

How long have you been working in the coffee industry? Four years in the industry with varied experiences. I started as a barista.

What is your current role? Travelling Barista

What's the highlight of your career? Learning to roast and creating different profiles.

What has been your most embarrassing moment in coffee? Having an Aeropress explode during a demonstration – coffee grinds everywhere!

What does the future of coffee hold? Hopefully my own cafe.

Favourite coffee of 2016? Undecided.

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Name: Nicoletta Ntaletsou Location: Athens, Greece How long have you been working in the coffee industry? 15 years! I've been a barista since I got my first job. Where do you currently work? Mokka Coffee Shop, Athens What's the highlight of your career? Discovering the specialty side of coffee in the past two years. What has been your most embarrassing moment in coffee? None, i've only had happy and good moments! What does the future of coffee hold? Development and knowledge. Favourite coffee of 2016? I love any coffee from Africa!
Name: Irina Sharipova Location: Saint Petersburg, Russia How long have you been working in the coffee industry?  5 years What is your current role?  Barista Trainer and Quality Control at Mad Espresso  What's the highlight of your career? Achieving 3rd place in the Russian Barista Championship and also becoming a sensory judge. What has been your most embarrassing moment in coffee?  When my grinder broke during my first championship! What does the future of coffee hold?  Eternal education and lovely friendly people worldwide :) Favourite coffee of 2016?  Burundi Munkanze
Name: Ante Bikic Location:  Split, Croatia How long have you been working in the coffee industry?  8 years What is your current role?  Barista & Roaster at Agenda Coffee What's the highlight of your career? Organising the Split Latte Art Challenge and opening the first specialty coffee roaster in the region. What has been your most embarrassing moment in coffee?  Spilling a drink in a latte art competition. What does the future of coffee hold?  The future holds endless possibilities. My plan is to open a roastery and cafe where you can try coffees from all over the world. I believe that this kind of business is missing from my town.  Favourite coffee of 2016?  Costa Rica Tarrazu by Cogito Coffee
Name: Michael Munroe Location:  Zurich, Switzerland How long have you been working in the coffee industry?  I began working in coffee six years ago when I was fifteen in my parents cafe during my last years of school. A couple of years later I moved to Melbourne and got my first specialty coffee position at Sensory Lab/St Ali. What is your current role?  Head Barista, Coffee Trainer and blogger at michaelmunroe.co ffee What's the highlight of your career? The highlight of my career so far was being awarded one of the Fellowship positions by SCAA to attend Re:co Symposium 2016 in Seattle. This was an incredible experience that introduced me to coffee sustainability, since then I have been exploring how as a baraista I can make a difference, through service and communication.  What has been your most embarrassing moment in coffee?  Dropping a shower screen screw down the sink on the first day of my new job! What does the future of coffee hold?  I think the future of coffee will reveal itself further over the next 10-20 years as new techniques to combat climate change are developed, new quality and resistant varietals are sought out and a more prosperous supply chain is established. I would also like to see more and more relationships between roasters/cafes and producers develop, resulting in yearly purchases, hands on quality development and increased notoriety of producers from customers. As for myself I hope to continue making customers happy with great service and satisfied with delicious coffee and through this get more and more people excited about specialty coffee. I would like to continue working on how we can engage with customers in the industry efforts of quality and sustainability as this provides more support to our supply chain. Favourite coffee of 2016?  Colombia Carlos Guamanga (Pitalito, Huila) - roasted by Small Batch Roasting co.
Name: Paul O'Carroll Location: Cork, Ireland How long have you been working in the coffee industry?  4.5 years. My first role was as a barista. What is your current role? Cafe owner – The Bookshelf Coffee House  What's the highlight of your career? Owning my own successful cafe What has been your most embarrassing moment in coffee?  In hindsight all the coffees I made in my first 6 months of working as a barista. I still cringe now! What does the future of coffee hold?  For me, another cafe or two where I can introduce people to good coffee, served the way it should be. Favourite coffee of 2016? Definitely El Divino Nino, a really sweet Colombian coffee roasted by The Barn who supply The Bookshelf Coffee House.    
Name: Ricardo Gandara Location:  Manchester, England How long have you been working in the coffee industry?  1 year as a barista and 3 years as the co-founder of Cup North. What is your current role?  Barista for Grindsmiths coffee shop What's the highlight of your career?  Organising Cup North and all the events surrounding the festival. What has been your most embarrassing moment in coffee?  Whenever a flat white is a flappacino! What does the future of coffee hold?  Development and education of baristas and consumers on the value of specialty coffee Favourite coffee of 2016? Loving this Kenya Gatuiyaini from Heart & Graft and also a great Nicaraguan Santa Maria de Lourdes from Foundry Coffee Roasters.  
Name:  Paul Panicco Location:  Cape Town, RSA How long have you been working in the coffee industry?  I've worked as a part-time barista for four years. What is your current role?  Product designer and Aeropresser What's the highlight of your career?  Designing a brew station for alternative brewing.  What has been your most embarrassing moment in coffee?  Not realising that i'm serving burnt milk! What does the future of coffee hold?  I hope to create my own line of modular equipment for 3rd wave coffee shops and a range of hand-brew accessories for specialty coffee consumers. Favourite coffee of 2016?  Kenyan Therikwa from Rosetta Coffee Roasters in Cape Town. 
Name: Aliaksandr Kuzin Location:  Minsk, Belarus How long have you been working in the coffee industry?  For one year and a half. I found at a job at a small cafe in the business district to help support me in my freshman year. What is your current role? Barista at Minsk Double B Coffee and Tea What's the highlight of your career?  Having the opportunity to meet 'famous' coffee people from all over the world.  What has been your most embarrassing moment in coffee?  The moment when you are unable to satisfy the expectations of a customer. What does the future of coffee hold?  We must strive to become better and do better! Favourite coffee of 2016?  Colombia Sanremo
Name: Emiliya Yordanova Location:  Edinburgh, Scotland How long have you been working in the coffee industry?  7 years (3 of those in speciality). At my first ever job (Colours & Flavours, Sofia) and I was front of house - it was almost a whole year until I got to make coffee, as I got to learn and appreciate how much goes into it. What is your current role?  Head Barista for Brew Lab, Edinburgh. What's the highlight of your career?  Supporting our baristas in competition (Claire 3rd UKBC and John 5th UKBrC) - they worked so hard and it was very special to be there for them all the way through. What has been your most embarrassing moment in coffee?  One summer working in the Brew Lab pop-up over the Fringe a lovely cheery lady asked me for "a nice cappuccino" - to which I replied "we don't do those, but I can make you an iced latte?" which must have been quite confusing! It took a while for us both to figure it out but she got a super nice cappuccino in the end and I have never misheard "nice" ever since. What does the future of coffee hold?  The journey has just begun! Favourite coffee of 2016?  La Palma y El Tucan's Lactic Fermentation Typica roasted by La Cabra.
Name:  Daria Pinchuk Location:  Minsk, Belarus How long have you been working in the coffee industry?  3 years as a barista. What is your current role?  Barista and Roast-master at Manufactura Coffee Shop. What's the highlight of your career?  Achieving 2nd place in the SCAE Belarus Barista Championships! What has been your most embarrassing moment in coffee?  None :) What does the future of coffee hold?  Plantation trips! Favourite coffee of 2016? I'm still looking for it ;)
Name:  Caroline Irwin  Location:  Belfast, Northern Ireland How long have you been working in the coffee industry?  4 years –my first job was in a student coffee shop – no better way to learn quickly! What is your current role?  Barista at 5A Cafe, Belfast What's the highlight of your career? Training for the Irish Brewers Cup 2015 What has been your most embarrassing moment in coffee?  I used a naked portafilter once in a group training class and the first go really put me in my place! What does the future of coffee hold?  Adventure! Favourite coffee of 2016?  El Diamante, Colombia roasted by Five Elephant.
Name:  Blanche Novotná Location: Jilové u Prahy, Czech Republic How long have you been working in the coffee industry?  I've started about 12 years ago when I started to work in small café owned by Petra Veselá. What is your current role?  PR manager and assistant at Petra Veselá and Gwilym Davies/ Interactive Designer at VCCP. What's the highlight of your career?  When Gwilym Davies moved to my hometown ;) What has been your most embarrassing moment in coffee?  The first month when I was working in that cafe in Jílové came a famous food blogger. It was 10 years ago and all the hype around coffee and food blogging has just started. And it was the day when kids finish the school so the cafe was full of screaming kids, I was so busy, so lame and the guy was just watching me all the time and writting his review. I knew I screwed up a big time...but somehow the review has never been published. Lucky me! What does the future of coffee hold?  I'm more observant than actual participant in the coffee culture and I believe that marketing is very important for the future of coffee. I like to watch all the new trends and movements, meet the people around coffee and help them with the marketing things. Favourite coffee of 2016?  La Boheme Biru Bekele Ethiopian
Name:  Freda Yuan Location:  London, UK How long have you been working in the coffee industry?  3 years as a barista. What is your current role? I'm looking for a job in a roastery. What's the highlight of your career?  When I qualified as a Q-Grader. What has been your most embarrassing moment in coffee?  Failing the Intermediate Brewing Course. What does the future of coffee hold?  I want to make an impact – producing good tasty coffee from seed to cup! Favourite coffee of 2016? Biftu Gudina roasted by Clifton Coffee Roasters brewed at Lyle's. Tastes like a peach in a cup.
Name:  Joszef Csepe Location:  Dublin, Ireland How long have you been working in the coffee industry?  I've been working as a barista for 4 years now. My first job in coffee was a bartender/barista job in an Italian restaurant. What is your current role?  Head Barista/Roaster for Two Fifty Square Coffee Roasters. What's the highlight of your career?  When the very first coffee I roasted turned out to be enjoyable. What has been your most embarrassing moment in coffee? I can't recall any! What does the future of coffee hold?  Better grinders! Favourite coffee of 2016?  I've had lots of special coffee so far this year. No favourites yet though. Picture by Gabor Nagy
Name: Tomas Laca Location:  Prague, Czech Republic How long have you been working in the coffee industry?  I started to be interested in specialty coffee at University, visiting festivals, reading about it and in the end working as barista. Working experience 2 years. What is your current role?  Head Barista, QC & Marketing for Coffee Source What's the highlight of your career?  I competed only once in Cup Tasters and I was leader in the first round but later didn't do well in finals. I was happy with results since much experienced were competing. What has been your most embarrassing moment in coffee?  We created a nitro using Rwanda and it all tasted like potato... What does the future of coffee hold?  I'd love to compete and travel. Favourite coffee of 2016? Colombia Sudan Rume from our roastery!  
Name: Manos Apostolopoulos Location:  Athens, Greece How long have you been working in the coffee industry?  I started working as a barista eight years ago. My first job was in a chain coffee shop.  What is your current role?  Barista and Barista Trainer for Kudu Coffee Roaster What's the highlight of your career?  The 3rd Place on the Greek National Coffee in Good Spirits Championship of 2016 was a nice touch. What has been your most embarrassing moment in coffee?  When i was just started to work in coffee industry i was doing some waiter's shifts and one day I had so much glasses on my tray and one of them fell on my head and it was full with coffee. but wasn't embarrassing it was funny , I think we should never feel embarrassing for our jobs!! What does the future of coffee hold?  Who knows what tomorrow will bring, maybe sunshine maybe rain!!(Marion Black song).I don't know what I'm going to do in the future or where I will be,but the sure thing is I will keep trying to being better and better, l'll try to learn new things about the coffee, new ways of brewing and more innovating things! Favourite coffee of 2016?  Kenya Thungury roasted by Kudu Coffee Roasters it was my winning coffee
Name:  Suhas Dwarakanath Location: Dubai, U.A.E How long have you been working in the coffee industry?  For 5 years I have been training and demonstrating products. What is your current role?  Brand Manager for Fresh Express What's the highlight of your career? Completing my Coffee Diploma and getting promoted to being a Brand Manager of a coffee brand. What has been your most embarrassing moment in coffee?  Washing the coffee grounds down the sink the whole day and creating a flood in the training center! What does the future of coffee hold?  Definitely farming and innovative processing techniques with Indian coffee. Oh, and launching my own brand of smart water boiler for brewing! Favourite coffee of 2016?  Cup of Excellence Costa Rica 2016. Farmer : Francisco Mena Vilchez. Farm: Monte Llano Bonito. Score: 93.41. Final Rank No 1
Name:  Jess Fallone Location:  Canada How long have you been working in the coffee industry?  Four years in the industry with varied experiences. I started as a barista. What is your current role?  Travelling Barista What's the highlight of your career? Learning to roast and creating different profiles. What has been your most embarrassing moment in coffee?  Having an Aeropress explode during a demonstration – coffee grinds everywhere! What does the future of coffee hold?  Hopefully my own cafe. Favourite coffee of 2016?  Undecided.