In advance of the WBC event on June 21–24, we introduce the champions from Uganda, Ukraine, UAE, UK, USA, and Vietnam.
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 are showcasing these champions here at Barista Magazine Online in the alphabetical order of their countries. (Here are parts one, two, three, four, five, and six of this series.) Today, in the last installment of this series, we will meet the champions of Uganda, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America, and Vietnam.
UGANDA
WOKORACH MICHEAL
UGANDA COFFEE DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
“I work with Kawacom Uganda Limited as an assistant quality manager. One reason for competing is because I love coffee and have been competing since 2015. For the coffee industry, I joined in 2013 at the university.“
UKRAINE
RUSLAN DEMONENKO
KOLO COFFEE
“I work (in a) specialty-coffee shop, Buddy, and at a roastery, Kolo Coffee. I’m new in coffee but so excited to take a part in (the) world stage!“
UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
MARIAM ERIN
COSMIC GARDEN COFFEE ROASTERY
“I’m living in United Arab Emirates for over six years, which gave me a perfect environment and opportunity to establish my career and fall in love more (deeply) with the coffee quality and coffee community. Currently I’m working at Cosmic Garden Coffee Roastery as head of coffee quality and training based in Dubai. I represented the United Arab Emirates in 2021 for the World Brewers Cup championship at World of Coffee Milan, and that experience made me more passionate to share my message and responsibility to represent the whole coffee community of United Arab Emirates on the world stage. Competition allows us to have that opportunity to contribute something special and give impact to this beautiful community that we are all in. I’m a food technologist by profession, and I did a switch from food laboratory to coffee industry back (in) 2015. Working in the coffee industry made me feel like I’m still working in (the) food manufacturing industry, but in a more fun way and more people-oriented environment. For me learning, exploring, and sharing coffee is another form of art that’s worth sharing.“
UNITED KINGDOM
IAN KISSICK
FORMATIVE
“I’m the owner of Formative Coffee in Central London, and I’ve been competing for five years. I’m from rural Northern Ireland, but I moved to London in 2011 to study Computer Science. My studies have continued to influence me, and have continued into my time in coffee, helping me foster a strong interest in the impact of technology on the coffee industry. My love of coffee began, really, as an escape from a dull corporate job. I’d take 10-15 minutes every day to escape my desk and walk over to my local specialty-coffee shop, chat to the baristas, and enjoy a coffee. Once I’d quit the corporate job, it was that very same shop that I went to work in.“
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
ISAIAH SHEESE
ARCHETYPE COFFEE
“I own Archetype Coffee. I have been competing for nine years. One of my first bosses signed me up for a barista comp in 2009 as a surprise. Little did I know it would become a big passion of mine. Fun facts … I’m an avid rock climber. I used to play a lot of rock ’n’ roll. I kind of fell into coffee. I had a friend opening up a shop and she asked if I wanted to help. That was in 2004. And … I’m still in love with it.“
VIETNAM
HAN TRAN
BOSGAURUS COFFEE ROASTERS
“My name is Han and people love to call me Hana. I’ve been working at Bosgaurus Coffee Roasters since 2015. I love the way we connect people, serve a quality coffee, and deliver stories. Competing is challenging, but it helps me set a higher standard. I believe each competitor has a message to deliver, so here I am, waiting for this chance to tell my story.“
Good luck to all 48 National Barista Champions set to take the stage at the 2023 World Barista Championship in Athens, Greece, June 21–24!
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