Cristalenia Sofan, Romania
2018 CIC Competitors
Romania
Cristalenia Sofan
ORYGYNS
Please tell us a little bit about yourself:
My name is Cristalenia, I am from Bucharest, Romania. I like to enjoy the simple things in life that makes me happy. I am a coffee lover, music lover and I like to travel, to meet new people.
Please list the coffee competitions you have participated in, what year they took place, and your results.
Bucharest Coffee Festival 2017, Ibrik Championship – First Place
Cezve/Ibrik Championship 2017 Budapest – Semifinals
Bucharest Ibrik Championship 2018 – First Place
What was your first amazing experience with coffee?:
When I was little. I don’t know… I was around 10 years old, with my grandpa when he asked me if i want to prepare his coffee, wich was his favourite morning beverage.
What’s the secret to a great Cezve/Ibrik beverage?:
Do it with passion, or don’t do it at all.
What coffee-producing country most interests or excites you?:
Well…Ethiopia is one of them.
What are your interests outside of coffee?:
Making people happy.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?:
Well…I don’t know how to respond to this one at the moment, but I know for sure that I will still work with coffee.
Is there anyone you would like to thank or recognise, or who helped you to prepare for the CIC?:
To my coach and to my manager, thank you!
Slava Babych, Ukraine
2018 CIC Competitors
Ukraine
Slava Babych
Dmitry Borisov Gastrofamily
Please tell us a little bit about yourself:
My first cup of coffee, I cooked 6 years ago my future wife, coach and mother of my son. This was a turning point in my life, and the beginning of me love for coffee . And now I am the chief barista of the 12 best restaurants in Ukraine.
Please list the coffee competitions you have participated in, what year they took place, and your results.
2013 Ukrainian Barista Championship – 4th Place
2015 Ukrainian Barista Championship – 4th Place
2017 Ukrainian Coffee in Good Spirits – 2nd Place
2017 Ukrainian Barista Championship – 3rd Place
2018 Ukrainian Cezve Championship – Winner
What’s the secret to a great Cezve/Ibrik beverage?:
More love in each cup.
What coffee-producing country most interests or excites you?:
El Salvador.
What are your interests outside of coffee?:
Rollerskating.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?:
The father of 3 children.
Is there anyone you would like to thank or recognise, or who helped you to prepare for the CIC?:
SCA Ukraine and my family.
Simone Cattani, Italy
2018 CIC Competitors
Italy
Simone Cattani
Coffee Training Academy
Please tell us a little bit about yourself:
Born in Italy in Verona on the 11 March 1980, and I am in the coffee world for about 5 years.
I’m an AST, and I co-work with Coffee Trainer Academy in Verona. I’ve been competing for about 4 years, and this is my second time representing my country at the Cezve/Ibrik Championship.
Please list the coffee competitions you have participated in, what year they took place, and your results.
2nd Place – 2014 Italian Aeropress Championship
Semi-finalist – 2015 Italian Latte Art Championship
Finalist – 2016 Italian Cup Tasters Championship
5th Place – 2017 Italian Brewers Cup
9th Place – 2017 Italian Cup Tasters Championship
2017 Italian Cezve/Ibrik Champion
4th Place – 2017 Cezve/Ibrik Championship | Budapest
2018 Italian Cezve/Ibrik Champion
11th Place – 2018 Italian Cup Tasters Championship
What was your first amazing experience with coffee?:
My first latte art competition.
What’s the secret to a great Cezve/Ibrik beverage?:
My favourite recipe is a good balance between acidity and sweetness and a medium-high body.
What coffee-producing country most interests or excites you?:
All coffee-producing countries, but Kenya in particular.
What are your interests outside of coffee?:
Family and volleyball.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?:
In the coffee world of course.
Is there anyone you would like to thank or recognise, or who helped you to prepare for the CIC?:
My friend, and my coach, Davide Cobelli.
Marina Khuyppenen, Russia
2018 CIC Competitors
Russia
Marina Khuyppenen
Cezve Coffee
Please tell us a little bit about yourself:
I am Marina Khuyppenen, and I have been using cezve for for over 7 years. I own a chain of coffee shops in Moscow called Cezve Coffee. This year is going to be my fifth time to represent my country at the Cezve/Ibrik Championship. I love to improve my profession and work hard to improve quality.
Please list the coffee competitions you have participated in, what year they took place, and your results.
Participated in the Cezve/Ibrik Championship at world level in 2013, 2014, 2016, and 2017. In 2017 I ranked third at the 2017 Cezve/Ibrik Championship in Budapest .
What was your first amazing experience with coffee?:
It’s hard to remember what exactly the first experience was—but it was 12 years ago. That year I was surprised at how you can transform the tastes and perceptions of coffee if it is ground with modern equipment.
What’s the secret to a great Cezve/Ibrik beverage?:
The biggest secret to cezve is using a delicious coffee, and discovering the art of dialling it in the right way.
What coffee-producing country most interests or excites you?:
I love coffee from Panama, especially with the huge amount of research in the area—it is making the coffee all the more surprising.
What are your interests outside of coffee?:
My greatest passions are cooking and tasting.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?:
In five years I would like to see my company, Cezve Coffee, become a large international chain of shops with great coffee, in constant collaboration with farmers, and producing the best cezve drinks.
Is there anyone you would like to thank or recognise, or who helped you to prepare for the CIC?:
My husband; Instituto Federal do Espírito Santo, and Dr. Lucas Louzada Pereira; my colleagues; everyone at Westgate for the opportunity to work on the equipment Centurion Scientific; and my mentor, Valentine Mosunova.
Anastasia Dimitriadou, Greece
2018 CIC Competitors
Greece
Anastasia Dimitriadou
Spill It
Please tell us a little bit about yourself:
Born and raised in Thessaloniki. Moved to Athens at a a young age, 10 years ago. Studied journalism. My first experience with coffee was when I was 17 years old and started working in a coffee shop part time, alongside college.
Please list the coffee competitions you have participated in, what year they took place, and your results.
2017 National Cezve/Ibrik Championship – 3rd Place
What was your first amazing experience with coffee?:
Participating in my first competition related to coffee.
What’s the secret to a great Cezve/Ibrik beverage?:
Good coffee, ingredients that give a balanced flavour, and a barista that loves to make it.
What coffee-producing country most interests or excites you?:
Panama.
What are your interests outside of coffee?:
Traveling.
Where do you see yourself in 5 years?:
Working in a coffee related company and having a coffee related award
Is there anyone you would like to thank or recognise, or who helped you to prepare for the CIC?:
I would like to thank my mentor and friend, who has been by my side and inspired me until the very end of the National Ibrik competition—my coach Angelica for the sleepless nights we had practicing, and for all her help; and my dear friend Vagelis Vasilakakis, for his support and encouragement.
Koray Erdogdu, Turkey
2018 CIC Competitors
Turkey
Koray Erdogdu
Probador Colectiva
Please tell us a little bit about yourself:
I started my career in the coffee business as a barista in 2011. After participating in competitions I started to give trainings, and workshops, and became a barista trainer.
Please list the coffee competitions you have participated in, what year they took place, and your results.
2013 Turkish Latte Art Championship – 4th Place
2014 Turkish Barista Champion
2014 World Barista Championship – 38th Place‚ Round One
2014 Turkish Cezve/Ibrik Champion
2014 Cezve/Ibrik Championship | Rimini – 11th Place
2015 Turkish Barista Championship – 6th Place
2016 Turkish Barista Championship – 3rd Place
2017 Turkish Cezve/Ibrik Champion
2017 Cezve/Ibrik Championship | Budapest, 7th Place
2018 Turkish Barista Championship – 6th Place
2018 Turkish Cezve/Ibrik Champion
What’s the secret to a great Cezve/Ibrik beverage?:
Water temperature, a quality grinder and grind size, fresh coffee beans, and brewing time.
What coffee-producing country most interests or excites you?:
Ethiopia and El Salvador.
Is there anyone you would like to thank or recognise, or who helped you to prepare for the CIC?:
I would like to thank my sponsors Soy Turkey, Pinar Sut, Kronotrop Coffee Roastery, Koleksiyon, FM Kahve. Also I would like to thank SCA Turkey, and my coaches, Emre Bereket, and Umut Gokdeniz.
