Community is essential for our team at Acaia. Every year, as part of our community support, we sponsor various local & international industry events and barista competitors.
We offer barista sponsorships to support and encourage a more diverse lineup of competitors. There are many obstacles for competing baristas on both the national and international levels. We hope the program will help them on their journey and achieve their goals on a more equal world stage. Suki won the 2024 Swiss National Brewers Cup.
Please introduce yourself.
I am Suki, the 2024 Swiss Brewers Cup Champion. I worked in the coffee industry for five years. I got into coffee through the Latte Art competition, starting with the Swiss Latte Art Championship in 2018. In 2022, I started competing in the Brewers Cup. I love the challenge in the Brewers Cup. Especially how the Compulsory round constantly pushes our limits. I am interested in brewing different kinds of coffee. And I enjoy exploring new equipment, varieties, and origins.
Why did you decide to enter coffee competitions?
I started competing before working in the coffee industry. Competing means a new learning journey, from exploring techniques and discovering coffee to sharing producers' hard work. Championships challenge me mentally and skilfully in unique ways. I love this challenge and enjoy the journey from preparation to the moment I am on stage and, of course, the teamwork behind it.
How was your experience during the competition? Did you have a theme to your routine? How did you build it?
Chicago's experience was excellent. I learned a lot in a short period. When I left the stage, I told my team we would do this again.
My first World Brewers Cup theme was "Relationship between Science and Coffee." We brew coffee daily; every brewing process relates to science. We explored coffee through science's three fundamental building blocks: Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. These are all linked together to our cup. I was happy with what I delivered and enjoyed the stage a lot.
What are your thoughts after competing? Will you compete again, and will it be in the same competition?
It was a fantastic experience. Meeting all the best brewers worldwide and sharing coffee and knowledge is excellent. I will compete in the Brewers Cup again.
How did you use your sponsored Acaia products?
I always use it, whether at work, at home, or on stage. It's always the only scale that I trust.
What's coming up next in your journey with coffee?
I will keep competing. Discover more about Green, Roasting, and water chemistry. The more I brew, the more I need to learn. The coffee world is so big we can never stop exploring.
Thank you for the interview, Suki!
Find Suki's Brewguide here.
Photo credit: WCC Chicago and SCA Switzerland (photographer: justin_groep)