I'M NOT A BARISTA: Voices of the Coffee World

What happens when a music festival producer gets bored with coffee's stuffy competition scene? He starts a revolution. In this episode, we sit down with Steve Moloney, the founder of The Barista League. Ten years ago, he was done with 4 AM gigs in Swedish nightclubs and dreamed of a coffee event that felt less like a silent exam and more like a vibrant house party. That dream became The Barista Le...

In this episode of the I'M NOT A BARISTA podcast, we sit down with Georgius Audrey Teja — or Odi, as most people know him — to chat about his incredible journey from behind the bar to the world stage. Odi’s story is one of quiet perseverance. From serving iced lattes to confused customers in the early days of Indonesia’s specialty scene, to winning the World Coffee in Good Spirits Championship 202...

Welcome back to I’M NOT A BARISTA, where we give a voice to coffee people! We’re thrilled to return with our latest episode, featuring Danny Toro (they/them), the 2024 US AeroPress Champion. From brewing at 80°C to win in Portugal, Danny shares their inspiring journey—from a biology student in Texas to a Brooklyn coffee consultant.  Hear how their global roots (Netherlands, Korea, US) and men...

I’M NOT A BARISTA is back!  In this fiery episode, we chat with Nicholas Ginter, founder of Degenerates Drinking Coffee, Q Arabica Grader, and U.S. Army veteran, who unpacks the SCA’s controversial takeover of the Q-grading system from CQI. From calling out the SCA’s “money-hungry” motives to sharing his journey from Afghanistan to coffee content creation, Nicholas offers bold insights on ind...

In this powerful episode, Damien O'Brien from Coffee Foundation opens up about his personal journey through loss, mental health challenges, and the harsh realities of the coffee industry. Damien shares how his painful experiences—including the loss of his mother and brother—led him to create a safe space for coffee professionals and farmers alike.  He talks about the importance of vulnerabili...

In this episode, we sit down with Charity Cheung, 1st France Brewer’s Cup’22&’24, to explore her fascinating journey from public policy to the heart of the coffee industry. Charity shares how an unexpected start led her to pursue a new passion in specialty coffee, and what it was like to transition from academia to entrepreneurship in France. We dive into her competition experiences, the impor...

In this episode of the I'M NOT A BARISTA podcast, we sit down with Nikos Antzaras , a two-time Greek Barista Champion whose love for coffee transformed his life and career. Starting as a medical engineering student working as a barista to cover expenses, Nikos found his true calling in the world of coffee—a decision that led to both family tensions and remarkable personal growth. "I really fell in...

In this episode of the I’M NOT A BARISTA podcast, we catch up with Andrew Jay , a passionate coffee professional, who shares his inspiring journey from being a barista to becoming a regional coffee trainer. Andrew opens up about the challenges he’s faced, including imposter syndrome, the impact of the pandemic on his business dreams, and the fine line between his professional and personal love for...

Welcome back to another exciting episode of the 'I'M NOT A BARISTA' podcast! Today, we've got something truly special for you. If you're an Instagram coffee enthusiast, chances are you've come across the incredible videos by Haroon from the UAE. His account, @harooncfffee , is packed with amazing coffee content, but there's always been one mystery—Haroon has never shown his face or voice online. W...

Hello and a very warm welcome to all our listeners out there! You're tuning into the 'I'M NOT A BARISTA' podcast, and today marks the beginning of our exhilarating 2024 journey together. As we sip our first cups of coffee in this new year, we're thrilled to bring you stories that brew inspiration, stir passion, and pour out the essence of what it truly means to be part of the global coffee communi...

Today, we have the pleasure of introducing you to an exceptional coffee entrepreneur, Melissa Stinson . The brilliance behind the successful 'Everybody's Busy' coffee studio in Chicago, Melissa embodies the spirit of innovation and fervor in the coffee industry. But what truly sets her apart is her unique concept: a reservation-style business model, weaving exclusivity and personalization into eve...

In this illuminating episode, we have the honor of hosting Jeremy Zhang , a titan in the realm of specialty coffee in China. As the founder of M2M, one of China's largest specialty coffee roasteries, Jeremy's influence stretches far beyond the bustling streets of Nanjing, where his journey began.  His pioneering spirit has carved out a space in coffee competitions, setting a benchmark for man...

Get ready to meet Fish Yu , the co-founder and design director of TIMEMORE, the go-to coffee brand that has been stirring the coffee industry. Today, he takes us behind-the-scenes into the birth of TIMEMORE, a brand born from the shared passion for coffee and design between two friends who dared to dream beyond the mobile phone industry. As Fish unfolds his journey, you'll gain an insight into the...

Our guest is none other than Jo Lopez (@ link_is_not_the_princess ), the head of coffee at a coffee company in London, who spills the beans on the recent drama brewing in the coffee industry. A rising storm in a coffee cup, the controversial Paragon chilling tool, is the hot topic; with big players attempting to freeze out smaller competitors like Squeaky Coffee with legal threats. Jo, however, is...

Ever pondered on the therapeutic benefits of brewing coffee? Introducing Nadia Park ( @nadiaxcoffee ), a proud Korean American, rooted in California, who stumbled upon the tranquility imbued in the act of drip coffee preparation. This newfound ritual has since infused joy into her daily life.  Join Nadia as she talks about her coffee journey. It moved on from just coffee to chats about deep t...

“Coffee paired with the right glass of water will dramatically change your experience…” From tasting his first Ethiopian – washed coffee to placing second in 2019’s Australian Northern regional World Aeropress Championship, Darren Meachem’s journey through coffee goes deep. If you're a coffee aficionado or simply curious about the fascinating world of water, this episode is not to be missed. Tune...

We recently had the pleasure of speaking with Oleksii Fedorovskyi , the Ukraine Brewers Cup champion in 2016 and 2020. Even during times of war, Oleksii never wavered in his love for coffee. He and all of the 2023 Ukraine Brewers Cup competitors proudly hold the title of coffee enthusiast. In this episode, we had the privilege of interviewing Oleksii about the current coffee scene in Kiev and his...

In our latest episode, we interviewed Serafim Zoukas. He is a full-time psychologist, a father of a seven-year-old, and an independent Brewers Cup competitor who is passionate about homebrewing. We were impressed by Serafim's dedication to his craft and his willingness to compete with coffee professionals. He serves as an excellent example to his daughter and to all of us. Serafim's love for coffe...

In this episode, we had James Harper with us. James is an Italian Australian with a British twang, James fell in love with coffee as a teenager in Italy. He's worked across the coffee world but kept running against the same problem: nobody knew what was really happening. So he went off to uncover the reality and discovered uncomfortable, hidden truths. Armed with these stories and a background in...

Who is the most popular barista in 2023 so far? No doubt, it is Mariam Erin Pinza , the 2023 UAE Barista Champion, who is also the @coffeewristbands angel in UAE, and the talented artist that you should start investing :) In this episode, Mariam shared her experience preparing for a barista championship, and her recent competition performance proves that her method works.  Listen to this epis...

In the first episode of season 3 of the I'M NOT A BARISTA podcast, we talked to Elysia Tan, a coffee entrepreneur, and professional barista with multiple titles. She is the Singapore Brewers Cup Champion 2019 and 2022, and the World Brewers Cup 2022 2nd Runner up, and the co-founder of Homeground Coffee Roasters in Singapore. After eight years in the coffee world, Elysia still finds her passion in...

Hello guys, I'M NOT A BARISTA is back. 2023's first audio story is from Petros. Last year, we interviewed Petros Malousis , the operational manager of Coffee Lab and he shared with us his spectacular journey from a barista to where he is now. We hope his story can give baristas some tips about their own careers. Stepping into the coffee industry at 17 years old, Petros Malousis embarked on his cof...

Paola Campana’s story is one of tradition, values, family, and passion. Slipping into the world of coffee by following in her parents’ footsteps, her story takes place along the Napolitan coast of Italy. A dreamy backdrop, we invite you to imagine the sounds of waves crashing and busy piazzas in summer as we share her story with you. Read the full article here https://notabarista.org/paola-campana...

Coffee runs in Juan Angel Welchez’s veins. If anyone was destined to go into the coffee industry, it was him. To him, coffee is more than a drink; it is a connection, a bond. This love of coffee began with Juan’s grandfather, making him a third-generation Honduran coffee farmer. This is Juan's coffee story, written by Emma Niro Read the article here https://notabarista.org/juan-angel-welchez/ Supp...

The first time André Eiermann had his first cup of coffee was during the interview for a Junior Coffee Trader position.  After the interview, André was convinced that coffee was his destiny. On the hunt for an adventure, he was especially interested in traveling to the various origins of coffee.  Among the many successes he had during his 15 years working with coffee, he won the Swiss Ba...